George  Davidson 
1825-1911 


Professor  of  Geography 
University  of  California 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/brigantineoradmiOOamerrich 


'%. 


THE 


BRIGANTINE 


l^DMIRAL    LOWE 


A  TALE  OF  THE  17th  CENTURY. 


BY  AN  AMERICAN. 


NEW -YORK: 
CROWEN    &    DECKER, 

5,    ASTOR    ROW,  *  f 

Opposite  Niblo's  Gardeu. 

1839. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1839, 

BY    CROWEN  &  DECKER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  for  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 


H.  I.UDWIG,    PRINTKR, 

?2,  Vet^ey  street,  N.  Y. 


^^^ 

3^^^^ 


THE    B  RI  G  ANTING 

OR, 

ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


CHAPTER    I. 


NoTAViTHSTANDiNG  the  present  innovating 
spirit  of  progression,  we  must  beg  leave  to 
make  a  retrograde  movement,  and  with  all  due 
deference  to  .old  **  Father  Time,"  for  awhile 
retrace  his  steps.  We  hasten  back  then  over 
the  lapse  of  a  hundred  and  sixty-six  fleeted 
years,  and  introduce  the  reader  to  the  people, 
manners,  and  customs  of  1673.  -  It  has  been 
said  that  "coming  events  casf  their  shad- 
ows before,"  but,  little  did  the  good  peaceful 
burghers  of  that  day  dream  that  their  rude 
settlement,  with  its  little  mimic  fort  of  fory-two 
guns,  was  to  swell  and  increase  till  it  becamq^ 
the  wonder  of  the  older  world,  extending  itself 
over  the  hill-capped  island  till  gradually  assum- 
ing a  gayer  and  mightier  form,  it  burst  in  all 
its  grandeur  and  aspired  to  its  merited  station — 
to  be  what  the  smoky  city  is  across  the  water, 
— the  metropolis  of  a  great  and  powerful  na- 
tion. Such  is  New-York  in  1839,  but  to  under- 
stand the  sequel,  let  us  look  at  her  as  she  was 


ivi2.qnftAQ 


4  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

in  1673.  New-Orange,  as  it  was  then  called, 
and  the  title  by  which  we  shall  designate  it 
throughout  the  following  pages,  was  situate  on 
the  southern  point  of  the  island  called  Man- 
hattan, or  Manahachtanienks.  It  is  well  known 
to  all,  that  the  present  powerful  city  of  New- 
York,  owes  its  birth  remotely  to  the  peering 
enterprise  of  Schipper  Hendrick  Hudson,  and 
more  nearly  to  the  activity  and  perseverance 
of  these  never-to-be-forgotten  sturdy  sons  of 
Holland,  Schippers  Hendrick  Christiaanse,  and 
Adrian  Blpk,  of  Blok  Island  memory. 

Holland,  under  the  name  of  "  The/  States 
General,"  was  at  that  time  in  the  height  of 
prosperity,  extending  her  commerce  to  the  re- 
motest nooks  of  lands  then  unknown  to  the  rest 
of  the  civilized  world,  and  her  flag  floating  in 
the  breezes  of  polar  and  tropical  climes,  seemed 
to  -breathe  the  defiance  ''  Veni,  vidi,  vici."  She 
ploughed  the  ^-aters  of  every  sea  with  an  ad- 
venturesome keel,  and  as  the  reward  of  indus- 
try, perseverance,  and  adventure,  was  acknowl- 
edged to  be  undisputed  mistress  of  the  ocean. 
The  "  City  of  the  isles,"  which  had  first  ob- 
tained supplies  from  the  East  and  scattered 
them  over  all  Europe,  had  gradually,  through 
a  succession  of  years,  lost  her  enriching  mo- 
nopoly, but  to  pour  wealth  into  the  lap  of  Por- 
tugal, under  the  auspices  of  that  truly  enter- 
prising monarch,  Henry  "  the  navigator."  Lis- 
bon was  then  the  great  maTt  of  all  the  East- 
ern productions,  and  so  continued  to  be  under 
Philip  II,  till  the  war  with  England  was  com- 
menced.    At  the  commencement  of  this  war 


ADMIRAL    tOWE.  5 

the  English  no  longer  able  to  get  their  supplies 
of  spices  and  other  Eastern  commodities  from 
Lisbon,  were  obliged  to  apply  to  the  Dutch, 
who  furnished  them  at  three  times  their  price, 
and  thereby  made  a  speculation  which  enriched 
many  of  the  good  burghers,  at  the  expense  of 
their  English  friends.  But  soon,  (on  the  re- 
volt of  the  Netherlands  from  Spain)  Pliilip 
closed  his  ports  against  the  Dutch,  and  seized 
their  vessels  then  lying  there  at  anchor.  But 
this  state  of  things  was  not  of  long  duration, 
for  honest  Mynheer  after  looking  about  a  little, 
and  smoking  a  pipe  or  two,  aroused  from  his 
lethargy  and  determined  that  his  galliots 
should  aspire  to  the  honour  of  the  *'  long  voy- 
age." Accordingly  ships  were  fitted  out  and 
despatched  to  India,  where  treaties  were  stipu- 
lated with  the  natives,  and  colonies  planted, 
soon  increased  to  the  thrift  of  prosperity,  and 
eventually  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Portuguese. 
Thus  the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  wliich  once 
appertained  to  Venice  through  the  Saracens, 
afterwards  to  united  Spain  and  Portugal, 
eventually  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch 
East  India  Company.  Through  this  company, 
all  Europe,  even  England  included,  received 
the  supplies  which  their  necessities  demanded. 
With  rising  two  hundred  ships  they  explored 
the  unknown  seas  of  China,  penetrating  even 
to  the  Celestial  Empire,  and  venturing  still 
farther  upon  the  rud»  inhospitalities  of  Japan, 
that  terra  incognita.  It  was  thus  that  they 
acquired  dominion  over  the  sea  and  became  a 
great  and  powerful  nation.  It  was  then,  when 
1^ 


6  THE  brigantine:  or, 

the  States  General  were  at  the  summit  of  glory, 
that  Hendrick  Hudson  was  despatched  to  find 
a  north-western  passage  to  India  ;  faiUng  to  do 
which,  he  chanced  to  fall  in  with  our  little 
island,  the  scene  of  th^  following  story. 

From  his  favourable  report,  the  above  men- 
tioned Schippers,  were  sent  out  to  make  a  set- 
tlement, which  they  effected  in  the  year  1614, 
by  building  four  little  shantees,  about  the  site 
of  the  present  bowling  green,  and  dignifying 
the  little  dorp  with  the  imposing  title  of  New 
Amsterdam,  after  their  great  commercial  city 
at  home. 

The  reader  will  excuse  the  abpve  digression, 
which  was  a  crooked  road  taking  us  a  little 
jaunt  through  Spain,  China,  Japan  and  the  Ne- 
therlands, but  which  has  fortunately  brought  us 
back  to  the  little  settlement  whence  we  started. 

In  1623  the  settlers  at  Nieuw  Amsterdam 
commenced  a  fort  which  was  to  be  the  terror 
of  all  foreign  powers,  but  which  unfortunately 
advanced  so  slowly  that  ere  its  completion  in 
1635  or  6,  the  little  Dorp  had  more  than  tre- 
bled its  population.  At  length  the  fort  .was 
completed  and  frowned  upon  the  waters  of  the 
peaceful  bay  in  all  the  majesty  of  conscious 
might.  It  was  looked  upon  by  the  honest 
burghers  of  that  day  as  a  chef-d'ceuvre,  with 
its  forty-two  little  fourteen  pound  cannon, 
four  towers,  one  at  each  angle,  and  two  gates, 
one  opening  to  the  southward  upon  a  sloping 
plot  of  grass,  the  other  upon  present  Broad- 
way to  the  northward.  This  mighty  specimen 
of  architecture    was   situate  about  the  north 


ADMIRAL   LOWE. 


end  of  the  Bowling  Green,  and  at  the  open- 
ing of  our  story  was  called  Willem  Hendrick. 
There  were  then  several  large  sycamore,  elm, 
and  apple  trees  around  it,  the  favourite  resort 
of  the  citizens  as  a  lounge,  where,  upon  benches 
under  each  tree,  they  smoked  the  peaceful  pipe, 
and  related  to  a  wondering  audience  of  youthes 
and  maydes,  stories  of  battles  with  the  Indians, 
witchcraft  in  the  east,  and  now  and  then  a  grey- 
headed old  man  laying  aside  his  apathetic 
listlessness,  would  hunt  about  in  the  dark  re- 
cesses of  memory  and  draw  to  light  some 
scanty  recollections  of  the  father-land.  The 
little  city  itself,  after  the  Dutch  fleet  had  taken 
it  in  August  1673,  was  comprised  within  very 
narrow  limits. 

A  wall  of  wooden  piles  extended  from  about 
the  intersection  of  present  Pearl  and  Wall- 
streets,  along  the  line  ofWall-street,  quite  over 
to  present  Lumber-street,  and  there  terminate^l 
in  a  small  redoubt  built  of  mud,  and  beautifully 
decorated  over  with  clam  shells.  Beyond  these 
points,  on  the  east  and  w^est  side,  the  Groot  and 
Salt  Riviers  had  not  yet  been  encroached  upon. 
The  building  up  of  houses  and  wharves  west  of 
Lumber  and  east  of  Pearl-streets,  has  been 
done  in  later  years,  by  filling  up  the  rivers  with 
the  hills  which  have  been  cut  down  in  grading 
the  streets  about  the  brick  church,  and  even  at 
the  lower  end  of  Broadway.  Persons  living 
on  Pearl-street  used  to  keep  their  boats  secured 
to  their  houses  for  convenience.  Even  the 
promenade-ground  on  the  Battery  is  all  re- 
claimed ground  ;  for,  in  the  times  of  which  we 


8 

write,  there  was  a  fierce  ledg-e  of  rocks  pro- 
truding their  bristUng  backs  from  the  water,  in 
the  very  centre  of  that  beautiful  ground,  and 
then  styled  ''  Peter's  Ledge,"  from  the  fact  of 
one  Petrus  Ten-Broeck  having  lost  his  boat 
there  one  dark  night,  and  being  obliged  to 
mount  astride  the  rock  till  relieved  by  the  guard 
at  the  fort,  summoned  bj^  the  vociferous  appeals 
of  said  Petrus  Ten  Broeck,  who,  it  is  asserted, 
*'  was  verily  a  man  of  leathern  lungs."  How 
this  may  be,  we  cannot  aver,  but  thus  tradition 
hath  it.  What  is  Broad-street  now  was  then  a 
canal,  or  inlet  of  water,  walled  up  on  each  side 
with  a  narrow  trottoir  on  either  bank,  sufficient- 
ly wide  to  allow  foot  passengers  a  pathway. 
This  inlet  of  wtaer,  which  had  been  made  to 
resemble  as  much  as  possible  a  canal,  partly 
for  the  purpose  of  imitating  the  father-land, - 
partly  from  the  headstrong  disposition  of  the 
waters,  and  partly  with  the  design  of  facilitat- 
ing the  transportation  of  goods  landed  on  the 
mole  below,  to  the  stores  of  the  owners,  was 
the  resort  of  all  boatmen  employed  in  and 
about  the  city  and  on  the  Groot  Rivier,  as 
well  as  of  the  country  trading  boats  which 
brought  produce  to  the  market,  then  standing 
in  Broad-street,  a  little  above  Exchange  Place, 
then  called  Garden-street  or  alley.  Broad- 
street  was  called  the  Here-Graftf,  or  Gentle- 
man's canal  Another  canal  ran  along  the  line 
of  Beaver-street,  (then  Princess-street,)  inter- 
secting and  crossing  the  Here-Graft.  The 
houses  were  good  old-fashioned  houses,  built 
of  red  Dutch  brick  with  tiled  roofs,  standing 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  9 

with  their  gable-ends  towards  the  street,  like 
unto  a  man  with  his  back-side  to  the  company^ 
The  houses  lay  altogether  on  the  eastern  side 
of  Broadway,  the  lots  on  the  western  side  run- 
ning down  to  the  river  without  buildings,  but 
then  occupied  by  the  Governors  as  a  garden 
and  feeding-place  for  deer.  Beyond  the  city 
walls  were  the  Bouwerys  and  King's  farm. 
Thus  much  for  the  city  to  enable  the  reader, 
(who  is  no  doubt  by  this  time  heartily  tired,) 
to  understand  our  narration. 

Before  a  large  two-story  house,  built  in  true 
Dutch  style,  standing  in  Princess-street,  on  the 
Canal,  were  two  negroes  sweeping  the  trottoir, 
(similar  to  the  one  in  the  Here-Graft,)  enliven- 
ing their  morning's  labour  with  a  catch  in  bro- 
ken English,  and  now  and  then  addressing 
each  other  as  occasionally  some  bright  idea 
shot  athwart  the  curly  pate  which  Peter  must 
tell  to  Auo^ustus  with  the  seasoning  of  a  orood 
broad  negro  laugh.  Two  large  sycamore  trees 
were  jutting  out  from  the  side  of  the  trottoir 
nearest  to  the  house,  and  bid  fair  to  dispute  ere 
long  with  the  foot  passenger  the  possession  of 
the  walk.  Among  the  limbs  of  one  of  these 
trees,  the  promising  offspring  of  the  above- 
mentioned  Augustus,  in  the  shape  of  a  fat  negro 
cub,  was  sporting  about,  regardless  of  the  la- 
bourers below.  His  motions,  however,  were 
the  cause  of  several  pieces  of  bark  leaving  their 
natural  abode,  and  seeking  the  trottoir  below 
which  the  two  slaves  were  so  busily  sweeping. 

^'  Hy,  you  young  Coromanchee  niggur,  vat 
for  you  make  dat  fuss  up  dar;  come  down  out 


10  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

dat  now,  I  tell  you,"  growled  Augustus,  look- 
ing up,  and  at  the  same  time  sending  a  volley 
of  water  aloft  from  his  broom  dipped  in  the 
neighbouring  canal.  "Pow,  wow,  youw !" 
screamed  the  young  whelp  as  he  felt  the  cold 
water  showering  on  his  back,  "I  only  go  for 
warm  I  back  in  de  sun  dis  cole  mornin." 
'*  Warm  you  back,"  roared  the  older  negro  in 
a  rage,  as  more  bark  and  rubbish,  deranged  by 
the  scrambles  of  the  boy  in  his  attempt  to  get 
beyond  the  reach  of  a  second  application  of  his 
sire's  broom,  fell  littering  over  the  path  which 
they  had  just  cleaned,  *'  warm  you  back  !  I 
warm  you  back  wid  de  broom  handle,  less  you' 
come  down  out  dat."  But  the  young  negro 
had  evidently  no  intention  of  complying  with 
this  demand  of  parental  authority,  as  his  higher 
ascent  evinced ;  when,  to  cut  the  matter  short, 
Augustus  clenched  a  stone  from  the  walling  of 
the  canal ;  whereupon  the  boy  hastily  descend- 
ed, crying  out,  "  Pouw,  yo.uw!  don't  heave  um, 
old  niggur  pop ;  I  comin'  down  now  ;  do  n't 
heave  um,  ole  niggur  pop." 

*'  That 's  right,  old  darkey  !  heave  it  into  the 
young  niggur,"  said  an  English  boatman  then 
going  up  the  canal. 

''No,  don't  heave  um  —  don't  heave  um, 
ole  niggur,  Jim — come  down  now,"  roared  the 
boy,  seated  in  the  crotch  of  the  tree,  just  be- 
yond the  reach  of  his  father's  broom. 

Here  the  attention  of  both  Peter  and  Augus- 
tus was  diverted  by  a  passing  boat  shooting 
rapidly  along,  pulled  by  four  English  sailors, 
and  steered  by  an  elderly  man  in  a  gold-laced 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  11 

coat,  gold-laced  hat,  and  wearing  a  belt  stuck 
with  pistols,  while  a  sword  was  lying  on  the 
thw^art  before  him.  Jim,  taking  advantage  of 
the  opportunity,  slipped  down  the  tree,  but  not 
unobserved,  for  ''  ole  niggur  pop  "  turned  in 
time  to  deal  the  youngster  a  thwacking  thump 
across  his  broad  shining  back,  which  elicited 
another  edition  of  "  Pouw  youv/  ;"  and  v^ith 
this  salutary  admonition  the  young  whelp 
slunk  into  the  yard,  at  the  side  of  the  house, 
and  disappeared. 

''But  vat  you  tink,  (said  Peter,  resuming 
the  thread  of  the  conversation  which  had  been 
interrupted  by  the  frolicksome  Jim,)  vat  you 
tink,  uncle  'Guss,  'bout  Missey  Evvy ;  you 
tink  she  lub  dis  Capp'n  Vinsunt,  eh,  ole  nig- 
gur?" "Don't  know,  Pete,  don't  know,  (re- 
plied the  sagacious  Augustus,  with  a  knowing 
shake  of  the  head,  which  put  his  '  don't  know 
Pete'  at  once  to  shame,)  pie  niggur  must  'nt 
tell  ob  all  he  know." 

''  Cum,  uncle  'Guss,  you  need  nt  be  afeard  of 
ole  Pete,  any  how  now.  Ole  Pete  nebbur  tole 
of  'Guss  and  Missey  Dinar  jvhen  dey  went  for 
hunt  eggs  togedder  in  hay  rick,  eh  ole  niggur? 
choogh  —  hoogh  ! "  and  the  secret-keeping 
Peter  indulged  in  a  long  loud  obstreperous 
burst  of  merriment,  to  the  great  discomfiture 
and  annoyance  of  his  sable  ally. 

''  Hooh !  you  Coromanchee  black,  what  for 
you  make  such  debble  outroar?"  said  the 
downcast  Augustus,  at  the  thought  that  his 
wooing  had  been  witnessed  by  Black  Pej^e,  the 
blackest  negro,  and  most  notorious  goskp  in 


12  THE  brigantine:  or, 

the  colony.  "  'Spose  you  want  make  muss, 
Pete,  and  go  for  tell  ole  ooman,  eh  ?  "  ''  No, 
no,  uncle  'Guss,  Pete  know  better  dan  dat; 
but  come  now,  ole  niggur,"  said  he,  in  a  con- 
ciliating  tone,  drawing  forth  at  the  same  time 
from  the  capacious  pouch  of  his  galligaskins 
two  pieces  of  fine  leaf  tobacco,  which  he  had 
purloined  from  his  master's  pipe  pouch,  ''  Pete 
got  two  piece  ob  gen'leman^s  sort ;  you  tell 
Pete  what  you  know  bout.Missey  Evvy  and 
Capp'n  Vinsunt,  and  he  guv  ole  'Guss  one 
piece." 

The  eyes  of  '^  uncle  'Guss"  rolled  about 
with  a  peculiar  sort  of  twinkle  at  sight  of  the 
delicious  weed,  and  he  extended  a  huge  ebony 
paw  to  receive  the  wages  of  the  disclosure 
which  he  was  about  to  make,  which  no  sooner 
had  he  grasped  than  he  pitched  upon  Peter  in 
the  bitterest  tone  of  invective.  ''  Ha  you,  Pete, 
where  you  get  him,  eh  ?  debble  niggur  stole 
him,  eh  ?  Gooh  choogh !  'spose  you  no  keep 
dark  bout  Uncle  'Guss  and  Missey  Dinar,  ole 
^Guss  tell  Massa  Von  Brooter,  den  Pete  go 
poney,  eh,  ole  niggur  ?"  "  Gorry,  Uncle  'Guss,'* 
said  Peter,  rolling  about  his  orbs  of  vision  in 
pure  astonishment  till  only  the  whites  were 
visible.  "  Gorry,  uncle  'Guss,  you  play  nig- 
gur trick,  eh,  whooh  hooh !"  and  with  a  yell 
that  might  have  startled  the  solitudes  of  Africa, 
with  upraised  broom  he  rushed  upon  the  de- 
ceitful uncle  Augustus.  But  uncle  'Guss  had 
watched  the  first  burst  of  passion,  and  slyly 
retreated  towards  the  gate  which  opened  on  a 
path  leading  to  the  side  of  the  house,  and  from 


THE 


BRIGANTINE  : 


ADMIRAL    LOWE 


A  TALE  OF  THE  17th  CENTURY. 


BY  AN  AMERICAN. 


NEW-YORK : 
CROWEN    &    DECKER, 

5,    ASTOR    ROW, 

Opposite  Niblo's  Garden. 

1839. 


f 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1839, 

BY    CROWEN  &,  DECKER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  for  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 


H.  li:d\vio,  printer, 
72,Vet>ey  street,  M.  Y. 


THE    BRIGANTINE 

OR, 

ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


CHAPTER    I. 


Notwithstanding  the  present  innovating 
spirit  of  progression,  we  must  beg  leave  to 
make  a  retrograde  movement,  and  with  all  due 
deference  to  old  ''  Father  Time,"  for  awhile 
retrace  his  steps.  We  hasten  back  then  over 
the  lapse  of  a  hundred  and  sixty-six  fleeted 
years,  and  introduce  the  reader  to  the  people, 
manners,  and  customs  of  1673.  It  has  been 
said  that  ''  coming  events  cast  their  shad- 
ows before,"  but,  little  did  the  good  peaceful 
burghers  of  that  day  dream  that  their  rude 
settlement,  with  its  little  mimic  fort  of  fory-two 
guns,  was  to  swell  and  increase  till  it  became 
the  wonder  of  the  older  world,  extending  itself 
over  the  hill-capped  island  till  gradually  assum- 
ing a  gayer  and  mightier  form,  it  burst  in  all 
its  grandeur  and  aspired  to  its  merited  station — 
to  be  what  the  smoky  city  is  across  the  water, 
— the  metropolis  of  a  great  and  powerful  na- 
tion. Such  is  New^-York  in  1839,  but  to  under- 
stand the  sequel,  let  us  look  at  her  as  she  was 


4  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

in  1673.  New-Orange,  as  it  was  then  called, 
and  the  title  by  which  we  shall  designate  it 
throughout  the  following  pages,  was  situate  on 
the  southern  point  of  the  island  called  Man- 
hattan, or  Manahachtanienks.  It  is  well  known 
to  all,  that  the  present  powerful  city  of  New- 
York,  owes  its  birth  remotely  to  the  peering 
enterprise  of  Schipper  Hendrick  Hudson,  and 
more  nearly  to  the  activity  and  perseverance 
of  these  never-to-be-forgotten  sturdy  sons  of 
Holland,  Schippers  Hendrick  Christiaanse,  and 
Adrian  Blok,  of  Blok  Island  memory. 

Holland,  under  the  name  of  ''  The  States 
General,"  was  at  that  time  in  the  height  of 
prosperity,  extending  her  commerce  to  the  re- 
motest nooks  of  lands  then  unknown  to  the  rest 
of  the  civilized  world,  and  her  flag  floating  in 
the  breezeS'Of  polar  and  tropical  climes,  seemed 
to  breathe  the  defiance  "  Veni,  vidi,  vici."  ^  She 
ploughed  the  waters  of  every  sea  with  an  ad- 
venturesome keel,  and  as  the  reward  of  indus- 
try, perseverance,  and  adventure,  was  acknowl- 
edged to  be  undisputed  mistress  of  the  ocean. 
The  ''  City  of  the  isles,"  which  had  first  ob- 
tained supplies  from  the  East  and  scattered  ^ 
them  over  all  Europe,  had  gradually,  through 
a  succession  of  years,  lost  her  enriching  mo- 
nopoly, but  to  pour  wealth  into  the  lap  of  Por- 
tugal, under  the  auspices  of  that  truly  enter- 
prising monarch,  Henry ''the  navigator."  Lis- 
bon was  then  the  great  mart  of  all  the  East- 
em  productions,  and  so  continued  to  be  under 
Philip  II,  till  the  war  with  England  was  com- 
menced.    At  the  commencement  of  this  war 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


the  English  no  longer  able  to  get  their  supplies 
of  spices  and  other  Eastern  commodities  from 
Lisbon,  were  obhged  to  apply  to  the  Dutch, 
who  furnished  them  at  three  times  their  price, 
and  thereby  made  a  speculation  which  enriched 
many  of  the  good  burghers,  at  the  expense  of 
their  English  friends.  But  soon,  (on  the  re- 
volt of  the  Netherlands  from  Spain)  PhiUp 
closed  his  ports  against  the  Dutch,  and  seized 
their  vessels  then  lying  there  at  anchor.  But 
this  state  of  things  was  not  of  long  duration, 
for  honest  Mynheer  after  looking  about  a  little, 
and  smoking  a  pipe  or  two,  aroused  from  his 
lethargy  and  determined  that  his  galliots 
should  aspire  to  the  honour  of  the  '^  long  voy- 
age." Accordingly  ships  were  fitted  out  and 
despatched  to  India,  where  treaties  were  stipu- 
lated with  the  natives,  and  colonies  planted, 
soon  increased  to  the  thrift  of  prosperity,  and 
eventually  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Portuguese. 
Thus  the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  which  once 
appertained  to  Venice  through  the  Saracens, 
afterwards  to  united  Spain  and  Portugal, 
eventually  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch 
East  India  Company.  Through  this  company, 
all  Europe,  even  England  included,  received 
the  supplies  which  their  necessities  demanded. 
With  rising  two  hundred  ships  they  explored 
the  unknown  seas  of  China,  penetrating  even 
to  the  Celestial  Empire,  and  venturing  still 
farther  upon  the  rude  inhospitalities  of  Japan, 
that  terra  incognita.  It  was  thus  that  they 
acquired  dominion  over  the  sea  and  became  a 
great  and  powerful  nation.     It  was  then,  when 


6  THE    BRIGANTINE  I  OR, 

the  States  General  were  at  the  summit  of  glory, 
that  Hendrick  Hudson  was  despatched  to  find 
a  north-western  passage  to  India  ;  faihng  to  do 
which,  he  chanced  to  fall  in  with  our  little 
island,  the  scene  of  the  following  story. 

From  his  favourable  report,  the  above  men- 
tioned Schippers,  were  sent  out  to  make  a  set- 
tlement, which  they  effected  in  the  year  1614, 
by  building  four  little  shantees,  about  the  site 
of  the  present  bowling  green,  and  dignifying 
the  little  dorp  with  the  imposing  title  of  New 
Amsterdam,  after  their  great  commercial  city 
at  home. 

The  reader  will  excuse  the  above  digression, 
which  was  a  crooked  road  taking  us  a  little 
jaunt  through  Spain,  China,  Japan  and  the  Ne- 
therlands, but  which  has  fortunately  brought  us 
back  to  thelittle  settlement  whence  we  started. 

In  1623  the  settlers  at  Nieuw  Amsterdam 
commenced  a  fort  which  was  to  be  the  terror 
of  all  foreign  powers,  but  which  unfortunately 
advanced  so  slowly  that  ere  its  completion  in 
1635  or  6,  the  little  Dorp  had  more  than  tre- 
bled its  population.  At  length  the  fort  was' 
completed  and  frowned  upon  the  waters  of  the 
peaceful  bay  in  all  the  majesty  of  conscious 
might.  It  was  looked  upon  by  the  honest 
burghers  of  that  day  as  a  chef-d'oeuvre,  with 
its  forty-two  little  fourteen  pound  cannon, 
four  towers,  one  at  each  angle,  and  two  gates, 
one  opening  to  the  southward  upon  a  sloping 
plot  of  grass,  the  other  upon  present  Broad- 
way to  the  northward.  This  mighty  specimen 
of  architecture    was   situate  about  the  north 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


end  of  the  Bowling  Green,  and  at  the  open- 
ing of  our  story  was  called  Willem  Hendrick. 
There  were  then  several  large  sycamore,  elm, 
and  apple  trees  around  it,  the  favourite  resort 
of  the  citizens  as  a  loupge,  where,  upon  benches 
under  each  tree,  they  smoked  the  peaceful  pipe, 
and  related  to  a  wondering  audience  of  youthes 
and  rnaydes,  stories  of  battles  with  the  Indians, 
witchcraft  in  the  east,  and  now  and  then  a  grey- 
headed old  man  laying  aside  his  apathetic 
listlessness,  would  hunt  about  in  the  dark  re- 
cesses of  memory  and  draw  to  light  some 
scanty  recollections  of  the  father-land.  The 
little  city  itself,  after  the  Dutch  fleet  had  taken 
it  in  August  1673,  was  comprised  within  very 
narrow  limits. 

A  wall  of  wooden  piles  extended  from  about 
the  intersection  of  present  Pearl  and  Wall- 
streets,  along  the  line  ofWall-street,  quite  over 
to  present  Lumber-street,  and  there  terminated 
in  a  small  redoubt  built  of  mud,  and  beautifully 
decorated  over  with  clam  shells.  Beyond  these 
points,  on  the  east  and  w^est  side,  the  Groot  and 
Salt  Riviers  had  not  yet  been  encroached  upon. 
The  building  up  of  houses  and  wharves  west  of 
Lumber  and  east  of  Pearl-streets,  has  been 
done  in  later  years,  by  filling  up  the  rivers  with 
the  hills  which  have  been  cut  down  in  grading 
the  streets  about  the  brick  church,  and  even  at 
the  lower  end  of  Broadway.  Persons  living 
on  Pearl-street  used  to  keep  their  boats  secured 
to  their  houses  for  convenience.  Even  the 
promenade-ground  on  the  Battery  is  all  re- 
claimed ground  ;  for,  in  the  times  of  which  we 


8  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

write,  there  was  a  fierce  ledge  of  rocks  pro- 
truding their  bristhng  backs  from  the  water,  in 
the  very  centre  of  that  beautiful  ground,  and. 
then  styled  "  Peter's  Ledge,"  from  the  fact  of 
one  Petrus  Ten-Broeck  having  lost  his  boat 
there  one  dark  night,  and.  being  obliged  to 
mount  astride  the  rock  till  relieved  by  the  guard 
at  the  fort,  summoned  by  the  vociferous  appeals 
of  said  Petrus  Ten  Broeck,  who,  it  is  asserted, 
''  was  verily  a  man  of  leathern  lungs."  How 
this  may  be,  we  cannot  aver,  but  thus  tradition 
hath  it.  What  is  Broad-st?eet  now  was  then  a 
canal,  or  inlet  of  water,  walled  up  on  each  side 
with  a  narrow  trottoir  on  either  bank,  sufficient- 
ly wide  to  allow  foot  passengers  a  pathway. 
This  inlet  of  wtaer,  which  had  been  made  to 
resemble  as  much  as  possible  a  canal,  partly 
far  the  purpose  of  imitating  the  father-land, 
partly  from  the  headstrong  disposition  of  the 
waters,  and  partly  with  the  design  of  facilitat- 
ing the  transportation  of  goods  landed  on  the 
mole  below,  to  the  stores  of  the  owners,  was 
the  resort  of  all  boatmen  employed  in  and 
about  the  city  and  on  the  Groot  Rivier,  as 
well  as  of  the  country  trading  boats  which 
brought  produce  to  the  market,  then  standing 
in  Broad-street,  a  little  above  Exchange  Place, 
then  called  Garden-street  or  alley.  Broad- 
street  was  called  the  Here-Graft,  or  Gentle- 
man's canal  Another  canal  ran  along  the  line 
of  Beaver-street,  (then  Princess-street,)  inter- 
secting and  crossing  the  Here-Graft.  The 
houses  were  good  old-fashioned  houses,  built 
of  red  Dutch  brick  with  tiled  roofs,  standing 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  9 

with  their  gable-ends  towards  the  street,  like 
unto  a  man  with  his  back-side  to  the  company. 
The  houses  lay  altogether  on  the  eastern  side 
of  Broadway,  the  lots  on  the  western  side  run- 
ning down  to  the  river  without  buildings,  but 
then  occupied  by  the  Governors  as  a  garden 
and  feeding-place  for  deen  Beyond  the  city 
walls  were  the  Bouwerys  and  King's  farm. 
Thus  much  for  the  city  to  enable  the  reader, 
(who  is  no  doubt  by  this  time  heartily  tired,) 
to  understand  our  narration. 

Before  a  large  two-story  house,  built  in  true 
Dutch  style,  standing  in  Princess-street,  on  the 
Canal,  were  two  negroes  sweeping  the  trottoir, 
(similar  to  the  one  in  the  Here-Graft,)  enliven- 
ing their  morning's  labour  with  a  catch  in  bro- 
ken English,  and  now  and  then  addressing 
each  other  as  occasionally  some  bright  idea 
shot  athwart  the  curly  pate  which  Peter  must 
tell  to  Augustus  with  the  seasoning  of  a  good 
broad  negro  laugh.  Two  large  sycamore  trees 
were  jutting  out  from  the  side  of  the  trottoir 
nearest  to  the  house,  and  bid  fair  to  dispute  ere 
long  with  the  foot  passenger  the  possession  of 
the  walk.  Among  the  limbs  of  one  of  these 
trees,  the  promising  offspring  of  the  above- 
mentioned  Augustus,  in  the  shape  of  a  fat  negro 
cub,  was  sporting  about,  regardless  of  the  la- 
bourers below.  His  motions,  however,  were 
the  cause  of  several  pieces  of  bark  leaving  their 
natural  abode,  and  seeking  the  trottoir  below 
which  the  two  slaves  were  so  busily  sweeping. 

^'  Hy,  you  young  Coromanchee  niggur,  vat 
for  you  make  dat  fuss  up  dar;  come  down  out 


10  THE    BRIGANTINE  I   OR, 

dat  now,  I  tell  you,"  growled  JVugustus,  look- 
ing up,  and  at  the  same  time  sending  a  volley 
of  water  aloft  from  his  broom  dipped  in  the 
neighbouring  canal.  "  Pow,  wow,  youw  !" 
screamed  the  young  whelp  as  he  felt  the  cold 
water  showering  on  his  back,  "I  only  go  for 
warm  I  back  in  de  sun  dis  cole  mornin." 
*'  Warm  you  back,"  roared  the  older  negro  in 
a  rage,  as  more  bark  and  rubbish,  deranged  by 
the  scrambles  of  the  boy  in  his  attempt  to  get 
beyond  the  reach  of  a  second  application  of  his 
sire's  broom,  fell  littering  over  the  path  which 
they  had  just  cleaned,  *'  warm  you  back  !  I 
warm  you  back  wid  de  broom  handle,  less  you 
come  down  out  dat."  But  the  young  negro 
had  evidently  no  intention  of  complying  with 
this  demand  of  parental  authority,  as  his  higher 
ascent  evinced ;  when,  to  cut  the  matter  short, 
Augustus  clenched  a  stone  from  the  walling  of 
the  canal ;  whereupon  the  boy  hastily  descend- 
ed, crying  out,  "  Pouw,  youw !  do  n't  heave  um, 
old  niggur  pop ;  I  comin'  down  now ;  do  n't 
heave  um,  ole  niggur  pop." 

'^  That 's  right,  old  darkey  !  heave  it  into  the 
young  niggur,"  said  an  English  boatman  then 
going  up  the  canal. 

"No,  don't  heave  um  —  don't  heave  um, 
ole  niggur,  Jim — come  down  now,"  roared  the 
boy,  seated  in  the  crotch  of  the  tree,  just  be- 
yond the  reach  of  his  father's  broom. 

Here  the  attention  of  both  Peter  and  Augus- 
tus was  diverted  by  a  passing  boat  shooting 
rapidly  along,  pulled  by  four  English  sailors, 
and  steered  by  an  elderly  man  in  a  gold-laced 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  11 

coat,  gold-laced  hat,  and  wearing  a  belt  stuck 
with  pistols,  while  a  sword  was  lying  on  the 
thw^art  before  him.  Jim,  taking  advantage  of 
the  opportunity,  slipped  down  the  tree,  but  not 
unobserved,  for  "  ole  niggur  pop  "  turned  in 
time  to  deal  the  youngster  a  thwacking  thump 
across  his  broad  shining  back,  which  elicited 
another  edition  of  ''  Pouw  youv/ ;"  and  with 
this  salutary  admonition  the  young  whelp 
slunk  into  the  yard,  at  the  side  of  the  house, 
and  disappeared. 

''  But  vat  you  tink,  (said  Peter,  resuming 
the  thread  of  the  conversation  which  had  been 
interrupted  by  the  frolicksome  Jim,)  vat  you 
tink,  uncle  'Guss,  ^bout  Missey  Evvy ;  you 
tink  she  lub  dis  Capp'n  Vinsunt,  eh,  ole  nig- 
gur?" ^' Don't  know,  Pete,  don't  know,  (re- 
plied the  sagacious  Augustus,  with  a  knowing 
shake  of  the  head,  which  put  his  '  don't  know 
Pete'  at  once  to  shame,)  ole  niggur  must  'nt 
tell  ob  all  he  know." 

''  Cum,  uncle  'Guss,  you  need  nt  be  afeard  of 
ole  Pete,  any  how  now.  Ole  Pete  nebbur  tola 
of  'Guss  and  Missey  Dinar  when  dey  went  for 
hunt  eggs  togedder  in  hay  rick,  eh  ole  niggur? 
choogh  —  hoogh  ! "  and  the  secret-keeping 
Peter  indulged  in  a  long  loud  obstreperous 
burst  of  merriment,  to  the  great  discomfiture 
and  annoyance  of  his  sable  ally. 

''  Hooh !  you  Coromanchee  black,  what  for 
you  make  such  debble  outroar?"  said  the 
downcast  Augustus,  at  the  thought  that  his 
wooing  had  been  witnessed  by  Black  Pete,  the 
blackest  negro,  and  most  notorious  gossip  in 


12  THE    BRIGANTirTE:    OR, 

the  colony.  "  'Spose  you  want  make  muss, 
Pete,  and  go  for  tell  ole  ooman,  eh  ?  "  "  No, 
no,  uncle  'Guss,  Pete  know  better  dan  dat; 
but  come  now,  ole  niggur,"  said  he,  in  a  con- 
ciliating tone,  drawing  forth  at  the  same  time 
from  the  capacious  pouch  of  his  gaUigaskins 
two  pieces  of  fine  leaf  tobacco,  which  he  had 
purloined  from  his  master's  pipe  pouch,  *'  Pete 
got  two  piece  ob  gen'leman's  sort ;  you  tell 
Pete  what  you  know  bout  Missey  Evvy  and 
Capp'n  Vinsunt,  and  he  guv  ole  'Guss  one 
piece." 

The  eyes  of  ''uncle  'Guss"  rolled  about 
with  a  peculiar  sort  of  twinkle  at  sight  of  the 
delicious  weed,  and  he  extended  a  huge  ebony 
paw  to  receive  the  wages  of  the  disclosure 
which  he  was  about  to  make,  which  no  sooner 
had  he  grasped  than  he  pitched  upon  Peter  in 
the  bitterest  tone  of  invective.  "  Ha  you,  Pete, 
where  you  get  him,  eh?  debble  niggur  stole 
him,  eh  ?  Gooh  choogh !  'spose  you  no  keep 
dark  bout  Uncle  'Guss  and  Missey  Dinar,  ole 
^Guss  tell  Massa  Von  Brooter,  den  Pete  go 
poney,  eh,  ole  niggur?"  "  Gorry,  Uncle  'Guss," 
^aid  Peter,  rolling  about  his  orbs  of  vision  in 
pure  astonishment  till  only  the  whites  were 
visible.  '*  Gorry,  uncle  'Guss,  you  play  nig- 
gur trick, ^  eh,  whooh  hooh !"  and  with  a  yell 
that  might  have  startled  the  solitudes  of  Africa, 
with  upraised  broom  he  rushed  upon  the  de- 
ceitful uncle  Augustus.  But  uncle  'Guss  had 
watched  the  first  burst  of  passion,  and  slyly 
retreated  towards  the  gate  which  opened  on  a 
path  leading  to  the  side  of  the  hous^j  a^d  froin 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


13 


behind  which  he  manfully  returned  all  Peter's 
blows,  with  this  advantage,  that  while  Pete's 
broomstick  fell  upon  the  fence  at  every  blow, 
his  rung  a  full  change  on  the  sconce  of  the 
luckless  beseiger.  At  this  moment  the  original 
causes  of  this  memorable  combat  made  their 
appearance  issuing  from  the  side-door  of  the 
house  in  the  persons  of  a  male  and  female. 
The  female  was  evidently  of  the  gentry,  as 
her  dress  bespoke,  which  was  composed  of  a 
light  silk,  open  on  the  breast,  to  display  a  fine 
linen  cambric  stomacher,  beautifully  wrought 
with  curious  workmanship  of  flowers  standing 
out  in  bold  relief  The  upper  edge  of  this 
stomacher  was  trimmed  with  the  finest  produc- 
tion of  Mechlin's  curious  art,  (so  much  coveted 
at  the  present  day)  and  very  broad.  A  ruff"  of 
three  folds  of  like  material  with  the  stomacher, 
very  finely  quilled,  and  trimmed  with  a  very 
narrow  edging  of  lace,  served  partially  to  con- 
ceal a  neck  of  exquisite  proportions  and  clas- 
sically fair.  The  sleeves,  which  were  tightj 
terminated  in  fine  ruffled  cuffs,  overhanging  a 
small  white  hand,  the  fingers  of  which  were 
glistening  with  gems  of  other  climes.  The 
dress  itself  was  much  longer  in  the  skirt  than 
was  then  generally  worn,  falling  in  graceful 
folds  nearly  to  the  feet,  which  were  delicately 
small,  and  cased  in  white  silk  stockings  of  very 
fine  texture,  which  were  again  -  covered  by 
calf-skin  shoes  v.ery  similar  to  those  worn  at 
the  present  day.  On  the  head  was  a  small 
cap  coming  three  quarters  of  the  way  to  the 
forehead,  and  fitting  very  closely.  The  female 
2 


14  THE  brigantine:  or, 

was  in  person  of  a  middle  stature,  and  exqui- 
sitely lovely.  Such  was  Elvellynne  de  Mont- 
ford,  or,  as  the  old  domestic  styled  her,  '^  Mis- 
sey  Evvy." 

Her  companion  was  a  man  of  tall  command- 
ing stature,  fine  face  and  happy  mein.  Eng- 
land had  stamped  her  impress  on  his  noble 
brow,  and  declared  him  at  once  to  be-  a  Bri- 
ton. His  dress  was  a  naval  uniform  of  a  cap- 
tain's grade,  made  of  fine  blue  broad-cloth, 
slashed  at  the  sleeve,  from  beneath  which 
peeped  a  delicate  ruflSe  around  the  wrist, — the 
outward  mark  (in  those  days)  of  gentility. 
His  nether  garment  was  confined  at  the  knee 
by  a  large  golden  knee-buckle,  on  which  was 
engraved  a  coat  of  arms,  and  displayed  a  leg 
of  finely-formed  proportiohs.  Below  the  knee, 
the  limb,  as  was  usual,  was  not  covered  with 
a  large  top-boot,  but  merely  encased  in  black 
silk  stockings  and  light  pumps,  which,  like  the 
breeches,  were  confined  by  a  sparkling  buckle, 
but  of  smaller  dimensions,  though  bearing  the 
coat  of  arms. 

^'  Hooh,  Gorry,  dar  come  Missey  Evvy  and 
Capp'n  Vinsunt,"  involuntarily  exclaimed  Peter 
slinking  along  the  trottoir  till  hid  by  the  build- 
ing, while  ''  uncle  'Guss,"  unable  to  effect  a 
precipitate  retreat,  betook'  himself  busily  to  his 
former  occupation. 

Captain  L*a  Vincent  had  already  proceeded 
half  way  to  the  gate  when  a  soft  silvery  voice 
arrested  his  attention  and  he  returned.  Elvel- 
lynne. was  still  standing  on  the  ''  stoope,"  and 
bade  him  tarry  a  moment  while  she  went  in 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  15 

the  house.  A  minute  after  she  returned  with 
a  large  camblet  cloak,  which  she  playfully  threw 
over  his  shoulders,  to  conceal  his  uniform 
while  passing  over  to  the  redoubt  where  lay 
his  boat.  This  was  a  necessary  precaution, 
(though  not  willingly  acce(;led  to  by  the  young 
man)  for  an  English  officer  in  the  heart  of  an 
enemy's  settlement  was  open  to  abuse  as  well 
as  imprisonment  if  detected. 

"  But,  but  you  would  not,  Elvellynne,"  said 
the  young  man,  half  endeavouring  to  shalke  off 
the  garment,  which  she  as  obstinately  replaced, 
'^  you  would  not  have  me  wear  this  great  cum- 
bersome cloak,  on  this  hot  September  day!" 
**  Indeed  though  I  would,"  replied  Elvellynne ; 
"  and  mind,  sir  knight,  that  it  be  not  doffed 
till  you  are  once  more  safely  on  the  decks  of 
the  Greyhound,  which  if  you  again  desert  to 
come  and  visit  me,  I  will  betray  you  into  the 
hands  of  Governor  Colve,  and  have  you  im- 
prisoned in  the  old  Stadt  Huys." 

'*  I  am  already  your  prisoner,"  replied  the 
young  man,  in  a  tone  of  gallantry ;  '*  but  really 
there  is  no  danger,  no  necessity  whatever  of 
this  disguise.  No  one  will  molest  me  ;  and  if 
they  do,  why  I  have,  you  know,  a  good  An- 
drew Ferrara  at  my  side.  No,  no,  Elvellynne," 
continued  he,  ^*  I  shall  reach  my  boat  in  per- 
fect security,  for  you  know  I  traversed  the  city 
from  thence  to  this  place  but  a  few  hours  since, 
and  that  too  without  meeting  even  a  scowling 
brow." 

"  Aye  truly,  Charles,  but  that  was  before  day- 
light, when,  if  you  had  met  any  one  besides 


16  THE  brigantine:  or, 

the  watch,  you  would  not  have  had  hght  enough 
to  discern  if  they  had  any  brow.  You  must,  in- 
deed you  must,  bold  Captain,  surrender,  and 
submit  to  be  conquered  this  time  by  a  woman ; 
and  so  saying,  Elvellynne  stooped,  and^taking 
up  the  old  cloak  which  the  captain  had  thrown 
down,  once  more  placed  it  over  his  shoulders, 
and  with  a  good  hearty  smack,  (for  gentle 
reader,  that  was  the  custom  of  1673,)  bade 
him  adieu,  and  turned  within  the  house.  The 
young  man  with  a  bad  grace  submitted  to  the 
infliction  of  the  cloak,  for  a  few  moments, 
and  then  having  seen  his  fair  protectress  fairly 
within  the  walls  of  the  building,  again  threw 
the  offensive  garment  from  his  shoulders,  and 
giving  it  in  charge  of  the  two  slaves,  not  for- 
getting a  small  douceur  of  coin,  betook  him- 
self with  rapid  strides  along  the  trottoir  to- 
wards the  westerly  side  of  the  town.  As  he 
passed  by  the  termination  of  the  canal  in 
Princess-st,  (now  Beaver,)  his  eye  rested  upon 
the  form  of  him  who  had  a  few  moments  be- 
fore attracted  the  attention  of  uncle  Guss  and 
black  Pete.  He  was  a  man  of  apparently 
about  fifty-five  years  of  age,  a  fine  face,  and 
powerful  frame.  The  stranger  had  just  step- 
ped from  his  boat,  and  was  buckling  to  his 
side  the  sword  which  had  lain  during  the  pas- 
sage up  the  canal  on  the  thwart  before  him, 
when  Captain  La  Vincent  first  spied  him. 
For  a  moment  the  young  man's  suspicions  were 
aroused,  and  he  involuntarily  stopped  with  his 
gaze  fixed  upon  the  stranger.  When  the  ob- 
ject of   his   scrutiny,   having   made   fast  his 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  17 

sword,  turned  towards  the  trottoir;  he  too 
seemed  seized  with  some  sudden  w^onder,  and 
in  turn,  gazed  upon  the  young  man,  but  with 
very  different  emotions.  He  was  fixed  with 
astonishment  at  seeing  a  man  in  the  uniform 
of  an  Enghsh  Navy  Captain  in  apparent  se- 
curity, roaming  through  the  heart  of  an  ene- 
my's city,  for  England  and  the  States  General 
were  then  at  war,  while  Captain  La  Vincent 
thought  he  recognized  in  the  stranger  the  per- 
son of.  a  notable  pirate  who  was  at  that  time 
infesting  these  waters,  and  whom  he  had  once 
before  met  boldly  traversing  the  streets  of  Bos- 
ton. His  gaze  was  met  by  a  stern  unquailing 
eye,  and  thinking  that  he  might  perhaps  be 
mistaken,  and  at  the  same  time  reflecting  that 
he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  hostile  power,  the 
young  man  again  proceeded  onward.  Turning 
out  of  Princess-street  into  the  Broadway,  he 
came  directly  upon  the  fort  and  Governor's 
house.  Several  soldiers  were  lounging  about, 
leaning  upon  the  fence  of  the  governor's 
garden,  within  which,  pacing  up  and  down,  was 
the  governor  himself  Admonished  by  these 
sights,  that  he  was  not  in  exactly  the  safest 
place  in  the  world,  and  buried  in  a  reverie, 
wherein  Elvellynne  De  Montford,  a  country 
seat  on  the  Thames,  arid  sundry  other  little 
matters  held  the  most  prominent  places,  the 
young  man  was  not  aware  of  the  approach  of 
three  soldiers  till  one  of  them  tapping  him  on 
the  shoulder,  intimated  that  the  governor 
would  speak  with  him.  His  first  impulse  was 
to  lay  his  hand  on  the  sword  whose  boasted 
2^ 


18 


THE   BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 


aid  had  been  his  reliance,  but  seeing  that  all 
around  was  peaceful,  and  reflecting  that  the 
governor  only  wished  ''  to  speak  with  him,"  be 
turned  towards  the  garden,  but  not  more  than 
half  liking  the  distribution  of  his  companions, 
one  of  whom  walked  on  either  side,  and  the 
third  behind  him  with  a  bayonet  fixed  on  his 
musket.     On  reaching  the  garden  he  was  ac- 
costed by  the  governor,   and  confronted  with 
his  ovni  boat's  crew  (under  a  guard  of  soldiers,) 
which  crew  he  supposed  till  that  moment  lying 
by  the  redoubt.     Under  a  file  of  soldiers  the 
young  man,  with  his  boat's  crew,  was  marched 
along  the  docks  to   the   Stadt  Huys,  or  City 
Hall,  then  standing  at   the  head  of  Coenties 
slip  on  Pearl  street.     As  they  were  filing  out 
of  the  garden  gate   into   the   Broadway,  La 
Vincent  could  not  avoid  casting  one  longing 
look  towards  Princess  street,  and  thinking  of 
the   ill-fated  cloak  which  had    he    worn,    as 
Elvellynne  desired   him    to   do,  might   have 
screened  his  person  from  notice  till  he  should 
have  been  warned  by  the  absence  of  his  boat's 
crew",  that  something  of  danger  was  surround- 
ing him.     As  he  looked  up  the  Broadway,  his 
eye  caught  the  form  of  a  female  standing  on  the 
corner  of  Princess-street,  which  his  fears  at  once 
told  him  was  the  person  of  Elvellynne  De  Mont- 
ford.     He  looked  again   to  make  ''  assurance 
doubly  sure,"  but  the  form  had  vanished,  and 
he  was  left  to  his  own  thoughts.     A  thousand 
times   he  cursed  his  folly ;  first,   for  having 
entered   the  enemy's  stronghold  in  a  glaring 
uniform,  and  again,   for  not   complying  with 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  19 

Elvellynne's  advice  concerning  the  cloak.  His 
knowledge  of  the  Dutch  language  was  slight, 
but,  still  sufficient  for  him  to  catch  the  words 
spy,  sent  over,  England,  hanged,  from  which 
detached  fragments  of  thought  expressed,  he 
gathered  the  very  comfortable  intimation  that 
he  would  probably  be  tried,  condemned,  and 
hanged,  as  a  spy.  In  no  very  enviable  state 
of  mind  he  entered  the  Stadt  Huys,  and  was 
conducted  to  the  council  chamber  there  to  un- 
dergo an  examination. 

The  Governor  and  his  officers  soon  arrived, 
and  taking  their  places,  the  prisoners  were 
brought  forward  for  examination.  Some  one 
member  of  the  court  suggested  that  the  prison- 
ers be  examined  separately,  and  have,  after 
their  examination,  no  communication  with  the 
rest.  This  suggestion  v/as  at  once  adopted, 
(though  probably  the  honest  Dutchmen  did  not 
see  into  its  utiHty,)  and  accordingly  Captain 
La  Vincent,  as  the  principal  prisoner,  was  first 
brought  forward.  The  examination,  vv^hicli 
was  long  and  severe,  and  conducted  principally 
under  the  guidance  of  Captain  Colve  himself, 
resulted,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  that 
the  prisoner  was  a  spy,  and,  as  indubitably 
such,  had  been  taken  within  the  very  walls  of 
the  city.  Justice,  and  particularly  military 
justice,  in  those  days,  was  sometimes  very  sum- 
mary, and  as  La  Vincent  looked  around  the 
court,  and  heard  the  murmurs  of  approbation  at 
the  decision,  his  heart  began  to  fail  him,  and  he 
feared  lest,  without  farther  investigation,  he 
might  be  led  out  to  the  first  tree,  and  there,  at 


20 

once,  receive  his  quietus,  which,  by  the  way, 
is  no  very  pleasant  contemplation  to  a  young 
man  of  twenty -four,  who,  half-an-hour  ago,  was 
thinking  of  a  country  retreat  on  the  Thames, 
a  lovely  wife,  and  "other  little  things." 

He  felt  half-inclined,  at  the  expense  of  his 
feelings,  to  declare  to  the  court  the  object  of  his 
coming  into  the  city,  and  then,  when  the  decla- 
ration trembled  upon  his  lips,  the  idea  of  sub- 
jecting the  name  of  Elvellynne  De  Montford  to 
be  bantered  about  in  the  public  mouth,  and. 
perhaps  to  be  the  theme  of  ribaldry  and  jest ' 
among  the  rude  soldiery,  as  often  deterred 
him.  In  this  dilemma,  there  was  a  commo- 
tion in  the  court  among  those  nearest  the  door, 
and  soon  the  cause  of  it  made  his  appearance 
in  the  person  of  Alderman  Von  Brooter,  a 
member  of  the  common  council,  guardian  of 
Elvellynne,  and  owner  of  the  good  old  Dutch 
mansion,  where  we  first  met  Captain  La  Vin- 
cent and  Elvellynne  on  the  "  stoope."  Puff- 
ing and  blowing,  up  came  the  Alderman,  pipe 
in  mouth,  and  stumping  up  to  the  seat  of  the 
Governor,  begged  permission  to  address  the 
court,  which  being  granted,  he  deposed  that 
Captain  La  Vincent,  commanding  His  Majes- 
ty's (Charles  H.)  sloop  of  war,  Greyhound, 
had  come  ashore  that  morning  with  peaceable 
intent,  and  with  no  other  purpose  than  to  pay 
his  respects  to  his  ward,  Elvellynne  De  Mont- 
ford. The  good  Alderman  went  on  with  his 
deposition,  and,  after  a  long  speech,  concluded 
by  begging  that  the  court  would  dismiss  the 
prisoner  in  peace,  with  a  present  of  pipes,  to 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  21 

remunerate  him  for  the  indignities  suffered. 
At  first  it  was  thought  that  the  Alderman's  sug- 
gestions and  deposition  would  have  great 
weight  with  the  court  in  its  decision,  and  all 
had  been  carried  away  by  the  good  Alderman's 
speech,  and  enlisted  as  strongly  in  behalf  of 
the  prisoner  as,  a  few  moments  before,  they  had 
tilted  against  him.  All  were  now  anxious  for 
his  dismissal,  partly  for  the  sake  of  their  fa- 
vourite, the  Alderman,  partly  on  account  of 
la  belle  Elvellynne,  and  again  on  account  of 
the  prepossessing  demeanour  of  the  noble  cap- 
tive before  them,  who,  they  did  not  believe, 
would  be  guilty  of  the  meanness  of  a  spy. 

But  expectation  was,  for  once,  disappointed, 
and  even  the  prisoner's  countenance  became 
momentarily  overcast,  when  he  was  remanded 
for  farther  examination  on  the  morrow.  At 
this  critical  moment,  there  was  a  second  com- 
motion in  the  court,  caused  by  the  opening  and 
shutting  of  the  large  door  immediately  fronting 
the  Governor,  and  the  stately  form  of  Elvel- 
lynne De  Montford  was  seen  moving  up  the 
chamber  till  confronted  with  the  judges.  Her 
dress  was  the  same  as  that  in  which  she  had,  a 
short  time  since,  parted  with  her  lover.  She 
casta  look  of  half-love,  half-reproach  at  La  Vin- 
cent, as  she  passed  up  the  space  involuntarily 
opened  for  her,  tacitly  upbraiding  him  with 
having  neglected  her  advice.  Her  deposition 
was  very  similar  to  her  guardian's,  but  touching 
more  remotely  uponthose  delicate  points  which 
the  good  Alderman  had  stumbled  headlong  into, 
still,   in  substance,  the  same.      Having  con- 


22  THE  brigantine:  or, 

eluded  her  attestation,  Elvelljnne  [sat  down 
nearly  exhausted,  nor  could  she  be  persuaded 
by  her  guardian  to  leave  the  chamber,  till  some 
final  decision.  The  court,  at  first,  was  stag- 
gered by  so  strong  and  respectable  a  corrobora- 
tion of  testimony,  but,  after  wavering  a  little, 
again  attained  its  balance,  and  a  second  time 
remanded  the  prisoner  ^^  for  farther  examina- 
tion on  the  morrow."  This  was  equal  to  a 
sentence  of  death,  as  all  were  aware,  and  no 
sooner  was  it  pronounced  than,  with  a  tearless 
eye,  though  blanched  cheek,  the  stately  form 
of  the  maiden  was  again  seen  passing  down 
the  long  chamber  with  unfaltering  step,  till  hid 
by  the  large  iron-studded  door.  A  slight  quiver 
of  the  lip  was  discernible  as  she  passed  by  the 
nearest  of  the  spectators,  and  once,  but  once 
only,  La  Vincent  thought,  as  she  passed  by  and 
turned  upon  him  her  full,  beautiful  eyes,  he 
could  distinguish  the  slight  sound  of  a  tremu- 
lous sigh/  The  prisoners  were  conducted  to 
strong  cells  beneath  the  very  council-chamber, 
and  the  court  adjourned  to  convene  on  the  mor- 
row, and  pass  sentence  of  death  on  the  innocent 
and  brave. 


"• 


ADMIRAL  LOWE. 


CHAPTER  II. 


23 


With  the  same  stately  step  and  look  of  de- 
termination, the  maiden  traversed  the  narrow 
streets,  till  she  arrived  at  the  mansion  which 
we  have  described,  in  Princess-street.  Pass- 
ing over  the  very  spot  where  three  hours  since, 
she  had  parted  with  her  lover,  Elvellynne  en- 
tered the  mansion,  and  proceeded  through  cer- 
tain curious  crooked  bye-ways,  known  only  to 
Dutch  architects,  till  a  small  door  arrested  her 
progress.  This  she  opened  by  means  of  a  key 
which  hung  at  her  girdle,  and  entering  the 
apartment,  carefully  closed  and  locked  the 
portal  behind  her.  She  threw  herself  into  a 
large  arm  chair  which  was  somewhat  gaudily 
arrayed,  and  resting  her  head  on  her  hand, 
gave  way,  not  to  tears,  but  serious  reflection. 

The  apartment  in  which  she  was  seated  was 
small  and  so  altogether  unlike  the  apartments  of 
those  days,  that  we  deem  it  necessary  here  to  say 
a  word  concerning  it,  in  order  that  the  reader 
may  the  better  understand  any  scene  which 
might  hereafter  occur  in  this  petit  boudoir. 
The  little  room  was  in  the  north-west  corner 
of  the  house  on  the  first  story,  and  the  win- 
dows both  on  the  north  and  west  looked  out 
on  a  spacious  garden  which  ran  along  present 
Ne^/*|-sfi*eet,  then  called  Nieuw-straat,  or  stradt. 
One  of  these,  the  one  looking  westerly,  was 
open.  The  floor  (which  was  very  uncommon 
for  even  the  Governor's  floors,  were  sprinkled 


24  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

with  white  sand)  was  covered  with  a  soft  car- 
pet, which  betrayed  no  approaching  foot-fall. 
The  furniture  was  a  perfect  curiosity,  being 
made  of  bona-fide  mahogany,  and  elegantly 
plain.  A  large  scroll  sofa,  stood  in  one  corner, 
with  hair  cushions,  which  were  slightly  pressed, 
and  indicated  that  the  owner  of  the  apartment, 
had  probably  not  long  since,  occupied  it.  On 
the  couch,  was  a  volume  of  Spenser's  Faery 
Queen,  still  lying  open,  and  near  by  a  small 
stand  of  French  workmanship,  on  which  was 
lying  some  very  ancient  music,  and  that  most 
difficult  of  all  instruments  to  perform  on, 
an  arch-lute.  In  one  corner  of  this  elegant 
retreat,  stood  an  upright  book-case,  contain- 
ing a  collection  of  lore,  which  an  antiquary 
might  envy.  Near  by  the  old  arm-chair,  be- 
fore referred  to,  stood  a  diamond-shaped  table, 
scattered  over  whose  surface,  lay  books,  some 
articles  of  needle-work,  and  a  small  box  con- 
taining the  implements  used  in  female  work- 
manship. Near  one  of  the  sharp  angles  of 
the  table,  stood  a  small  silver  bell.  Cushioned 
tabourets  were  scattered  promiscuously  about 
the  chamber,  on  one  of  which,  the  maiden  was 
now  resting  her  foot.  In  this  little  retreat, 
Elvellynne  De  Montford,  was  wont  to  pass  her 
leisure  hours,  giving  herself  up  to  the  delights 
of  literature,  (a  taste  for  which,  had  been  im- 
bibed in  England  and  France,)  or  finding  em- 
ployment in  some  delicate  piece  of  workman- 
ship. Here  too,  she  was  wont  to  sit  in  silent 
reverie,  and  think  of  her  lover,  Charles  La 
Vincent,  (and  who  will  blame  her  ?)  and  of  the 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  25 

happy  hours  they  had  spent  together,  while 
roammg  over  the  smiUng  provinces  of  ''  sunny 
France."  This  httle  abode  had  been  granted 
her  by  her  good  guardian,  (whom  she  always 
called  uncle,)  to  be  exclusively  her  own,  and 
she  had  fitted  it  up  after  her  own  taste,  with 
furniture  brought  from  Europe.  Here  she 
could  retire  when  sorrow  pressed  upon  her 
heart,  and  unmolested,  in  this  little  soHtude, 
sigh  and  wish  for  better  times. 

Elvellynne  De  Montford  was  the  child  of 
misfortune,  for  her  parentage  was  unknow^n, 
even  by  herself.  At  the  tender  age  of  four 
years,  she  had  been  left  at  Alderman  Von 
Brooter's  house  one  evening,  by  a  young  Irish 
sailor,  with  a  note  written  in  the  English  lan- 
guage, in  which  Alderman  Von  Brooter,  was 
charged  to  guard  and  v^atch  over  her,  and  send 
her  (so  soon  as  old  enough)  to  Europe,  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  the  best  education  which 
could  then  be  had.  Enclosed  within  the  note, 
was  an  order  on  one  of  the  largest  merchants 
in  Amsterdam,  for  11,000  pounds  sterling,  (or 
about  50,000  dollars)  which  the  good  alderman 
looked  upon  as  rather  a  hoax,  but  which  never- 
theless, he  determined  to  draw  for,  togethejr 
with  some  information  concerning  his  little 
protege.  Accordingly  by  the  first  ship,  the 
order  was  sent,  and  by  the  next  ship,  to  the 
alderman's  no  small  wonderment,  duly  came 
the  sum  drawn  for,  together  with  a  letter  from 
the  merchants,  stating  that  the  sum  mentioned, 
had  been  placed  in  their  hands  shortly  before, 
subject  to  his  (Alderman  Von  Brooter's)  draft, 
3 


26  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

but  that  farther  than  this,  they  knew  nothing. 
This  was  a  mystery  which  all  the  good  burgh- 
er's efforts  were  unable  to  solve  ;  and  his 
zeal  at  length  being  wearied,  he  determined  to 
let  the  matter  rest,  and  act  according  to  the  in- 
junctions laid  down  in  the  anonymous  letter. 
The  little  Elvellynne  grew  up  to  be  a  beauti- 
ful girl,  and  by  her  winning  graces  and  ready 
conceptions,  completely  captivated  the  good 
man's  affections,  which  he  transferred  (at  the 
death  of  his  "  goede  vroeuw"  that  happening 
the  same  year  with  Elvellynne's  advent)  to  the 
little  stranger. 

At  the  age  of  ten,  the  ^ood  man  determined 
(though  unwiUingly)  to  obey  his  directions  and 
send  her  to  Europe,  to  be  instructed  by  the  most 
expert  masters  of  the  day.  At  the  time  of  her 
introduction  to  the  reader,  Elvellynne  had  been 
but  eighteen  months  returned,  after  perfecting 
her  education,  and  was  in  her  eighteenth  year. 
It  was  since  her  return  that  she  had  fitted  up 
the  little  abode  where  we  last  saw  her,  and 
where  for  the  present,  we  shall  leave  her. 
.  Our  scene  novr  necessarily  shifts,  but  not 
very  far.  Turning  cut  of  Princess-street  and 
proceeding  along  the  Here-Graft,  on  the  trottoir, 
we  come  to  an  old-looking  house  of  one  story, 
with  a  very  high  pediment  roof,  standing  on 
the  corner  of  Garden-street,  (now  Exchange 
Place)  and  fronting  on  the  "  Here-Graft,"  or 
Broad-street.  The  house  is  evidently  a  pub- 
lic one,  or  ferry-house,  as  the  crowd  of  idlers 
about  the  door  and  within  the  tap-room  indi- 
cates.    An  old  sign  in  the  shape   of  a  boat, 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  27 

(true  Dutch  build)  and  two  oars  twice  the 
length  of  said  boat,  is  lazily  swinging  on  its 
creaking  hinges,  to  the  gentle  breeze.  The 
building  itself  is  composed  of  rusty  Dutch 
brick,  and  has  but  two  windows  in  front,  one 
high  up  near  the  garret,  and  the  other  by  the 
side  of  the  door,  which  opens  at  one  corner  of 
the  building.  The  window  below  is  shaped 
like  a  show  window,  and  glitters  with  an  array 
of  old  Dutch  bottles,  filled  with  good  Hollands, 
and  other  liquors. 

The  front,  which  we  have  just  been  describ- 
ing, is  literally  the  end,  for  the  building  stands 
with  its  gable  end  towards  the  public  way. 
The  side  on  Garden-street  has  a  door  with  a 
stoop  and  a  window  on  either  side.  Above  are 
two  dormer  windows  looking  out  on  the  moss- 
clad  roof,  which  is  not  tiled  but  shingled.  In 
ffont  of  the  house,  and  on  the  side  of  .the  trot- 
toir  nearest  to  the  canal,  stands  a  post,  to  which 
a  boat  is  attached  by  a  rope.  Sundry  boats 
are  passing  up  and  down  the  canal,  but  none 
like  the  one  we  have  mentioned,  which  was 
clinkef  built  and  English  modelled.  Three  or 
four  sailors  were  at  the  time  of  our  story  (which 
might  be  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon) 
loitering  about  the  tap-room  door,  and  in  true 
English  style  cracking  their  bull-dog  jokes  on 
the  slow  moving  systematic  Dutchmen,  and 
now  and  then  practically  illustrating  their  spirit 
by  treading  accidentally  on  Mynheer's  toes,  or 
pulling  his  low-crowned  broad-brimmed  hat 
over  his  eyes.  This  was  the  "  Ferry-House," 
so  called,  notable  for  its  good  liquors,  moderate 


28  THE  brigantine:  or, 

prices,  obliging  landlady,  and  kept  by  one  Anne 
Bonny,  more  familiarly  styled  Dame  Bonny  of 
the  night-cap,  from  the  fact  of  her  Ijead  gear 
being  the  same  both  for  day  and  night.  Dame 
Bonny  was  a  good-natured,  obliging  dame  of 
two-score  years  and  five,  always  ready  to  help 
a  customer,  and  always  ready  to  praise  her 
ow^n  Hollands.  In  fact,  she  kept  the  best 
liquors  in  the  colony;  and  many  whispered 
that  Dame  Bonny's  puncheons  were  never 
landed  at  the  mole,  which  was  then  the  law, 
but  found  a  nearer  way  by  a  short  cut  to  her 
cellars.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  good  dame  never 
found  fault  with  any  one,  but  sold  at  lower 
prices  than  any  one  else,  and  better  liquors  too. 
Many  a  good  burgher  might  be  seen  after  night- 
fall, and  before  the  ringing  of  the  great  bell 
within  the  fort,  soberly  trudgmg  along  the  trot- 
toir  in  the  direction  of  Dame  Bonny's  little  hos- 
telry ;  ^but  whether  they  as  soberly  returned,  it 
is  not  our  province  or  inclination  to  disclose. 
Even  the  fat  good-natured  face  of  our  friend 
the  alderman  was  not  an  entire  novelty  to  the 
dame  ;  and  she  as  readily  dealt  out  her  good 
things  to  the  prying  authorities  as  to  others, 
notwithstanding  frequent  shoulder  shrugging 
and  some  whispers.  There  was  one  cus- 
tomer, however,  to  whom  she  was  more  than 
usually  attentive,  and  for  reasons  best  known 
to  herself.  The  dame  was  standing  in  one 
corner  of  the  little  tap-room,  holding  a  whis- 
pering conversation  with  one  of  the  before- 
mentioned  sailors,  and  seemed  very  attentively 
listening  to  the  tar,  who  w^as  very  earnest  and 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  29 

violently  gesticulating,  when  a  thump  on  the 
floor  of  an  adjoining  room  arrested  her  atten- 
tion. It  could  be  no  ordinary  matter  that  would 
have  sent  the  dame  thus  hastily  bustling  out  of 
the  tap-room,  smoothing  down  her  short-gown, 
and  stopping  a  moment  at  a  small  glass  to  see 
that  her  trim,  neat-looking  cap  was  nicely  ad- 
justed. Another  thump  impatiently  following 
fast  upon  the  heels  of  the  first,  caused  the  good 
dame  to  cut  short  her  hasty  toilet  and  obey  the 
summons.  Leaving  the  tap-room,  she  passed 
through  a  small  side-door  scarcely  large  enough 
to  admit  her  rotund  personage,  (for  the  dame 
was  portly  and  of  good  dimensions)  and  found 
herself  immediately  in  the  presence  of  the  very 
customer  whom  we  have  mentioned  above  as 
claiming  more  than  a  due  share  of  her  atten- 
tion. 

He  was  a  man  of  perhaps  fifty-five  or  there- 
abouts, somewhat  of  a  portly  appearance  and 
herculean  frame.  Time  had  grizzled  his  locks 
and  stamped  upon  his  features  the  impress  of 
the  passions  which  had  left  deep  furrows  to 
mark  how  fierce  had  been  their  power.  A 
small,  twinkling,  grey  eye  yet  shone  with  all 
the  fire  of  vigorous  manhood,  and  told  that  the 
spark  within  was  not^o  extinguished  but  that  a 
slight  breath  would  easily  resuscitate  it.  His 
brow  was  high  and  open,  though  traversed  by 
two  deep  indentations  on  either  side,  commenc- 
ing at  the  temple  and  gradually  falUng  to  the 
inner  end  of  the  eyebrows.  His  dress  was  a 
gold-laced  coat  and  breeches  of  the  same,  con- 
fined at  the  knee,  at  which  point  they  were  met 
3^ 


30  THE    BRIGANTINE  !    OR, 

by  heavy  top-boots.  His  neckefcbief  was 
loosely  tied  around  a  finely-formed  neck,  and 
his  whole  tout-ensemble  was  such  as  would  at 
once  declare  him  at  the  present  day  to  be  one 
of  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  ;  in 
fact  he  was  the  owner  of  the  boat  floating  at 
the  door,  and  the  very  personage  who  had  in 
the  forenoon  attracted  the  attention  of  uncle 
'Guss  and  Peter,  and  afterwards  of  La  Vincent 
himself  He  was  attentively  scanning  a  min- 
iature when  Dame  Bonny  opened  the  door, 
which  he  hastily  thrust  in  his  bosom  at  her 
appearance,  and  thus  accosted  her, — 

"  Ah,  Mistress  Bonny,  you  are  looking  hale 
and  well ;  time  wears  well  with  you ;  liow  is 
little  David?"  ''Oh  the  child  is  well,  sir,  sav- 
ing the  bit  of  a  mark  left  on  his  cheek  by  the 
hook." 

''  Ah  that's  well,  dame ;  I  was  afraid  he 
might  have  suffered  somewhat  with  the  wound. 
But  how  is  the  last  run  of  Hollands :  good,  isn't 
it?"  ''Ah,  Admiral,  never  was  there  better; 
but  you  must  try  a  glass  of  the  same,  so  as  not 
to  forget  it.  Here,  Paul !  Paulus  Spleuteher !" 
*'Nay,  nay,  I  thank  you,  Mistress  Bonny,  but 
I  have  not  forgotten  the  flavour,  seeing  that  I 
had  a  brush  with  a  bit  of  a  lugger  in  getting 
off*,  and  have  now  some  of  the  brand  on  board 
the  Merry  Christmas."  "  But,  Admiral,  you 
had  better  try  a  little,  one  little  glass,"  said  the 
coaxing  dame,  stepping  towards  the  tap-room 
door,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  liquor  in 
question  herself  "  Nay,  nay,  dame,"  said  the 
stranger,   who  was  no  less  a  personage  than 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  Bl 

Ephraim  Lowe,  admiral  of  the  pirate  fleet  in 
these  seas.  "  I  thank  you  again ;  but  I  have 
that  on  hand  which  requires  a  clear  head,  and 
would  be  your  debtor  if  j^ou  will  keep  Paul 
from  imbibing  too  much  of  that  same  Hollands, 
and  send  him  here,  for  I  have  need  of  him." 

The  good  woman  took  from  the  table  at 
which  the  admiral  was  seated,  the  remains  of 
a  plate  of  crackers,  and  a  dish  which  had  con- 
tained eggs,  and  disappeared.  This  had  been 
his  only  meal  since  the  morning,  and  was  his 
uniform  diet  vv^henever  on  shore.  Occasionally 
the  admiral  indulged  in' a  very  w^eak  potation  of 
Hollands,  but  very  rarely,  as  temperance  in 
food  and  drink  was  his  constant  practice. 
The  result  of  this  remmen  was  as  mio^ht  be 
expected,  good  "health,  great  bodily  strength, 
and  a  very  clear  strong  mind,  which  had  en- 
abled him  through  a  long  life  to  avoid  the 
snares  set  for  him,  and  preserve  a  stern  syste- 
matic discipline  over  the  rude  men  whom  he 
commanded,  Ephraim  Lowe,  (or  as  he  had 
been  jocosely  dubbed,  ''  mighty  Ephraim," 
from  the  fact  of  his  having  unarmed,  and  single 
handed,  with  his  clenched  fist,  struck  down  a 
furious  bull  which  w^as  making  at  him  wheri 
ashore  at  Buenos  Ayres,)  had  from  his  superior 
knowledge,  great  physical  strength  and  stern 
'•upright  demeanour,  been*  appointed  by  a 
unanimous  voice  of  the  pirates,  (who  had  a 
rendezvous  at  Barnegat  inlet,)  Admiral  and 
chief  commander  of  their  forces,  with  power 
to  form  a  code  of  laws  whereby  they  might  be 
better  regulated  as  to  their  distribution  of  booty 


32 


THE    BRIGANTINE  !   OR, 


and  arrangements  at  the  different  rendezvous! 
It  was  thus  that  he  came  by  the  soubriquet  of 
Admiral  Lowe. 

'  But  to  return  to  our  story.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments the  little  door,  through  which  the  dame  had 
vanished  again  opened,  and  the  person  above 
alluded  to  as  Paulus  Spleutcher,  made  his  ap- 
pearance. He  was  a  tall  merry-faced,  shrewd 
looking  son  of  Erin ;  and  like  all  that  tribe, 
when  they  get  in  a  dilemma,  not  knowing  how 
to  do  it  otherwise,  opened  the  interview  by 
scratching  his  head.  ''Ah,  the  top  o'  the 
morhnin  ty  yee  admiral,  an  how  is  it  yee  ar. 
Can  Paulus  Spleutcher  be  of  inny  sarvice  to 
yee,  for  it's  tired  he's  ghettin  of  this  divilish 
land  cruising,  and  would  be  afther  a  taste  of 
the  salt  say  water  agin.''  ''  Good  day,  Paul; 
good  day ;"  good-naturedly  replied  the  ad- 
miral, so  you  want  to  be  tripping  over  the 
merry  seas  again."  "Ah,  indeed,  aild  its  just 
that  same  I'd  be  afther  dooin,  yer  honour  has 
hit  it  exactly." 

''  But  Paul  you  are  at  present  occfupied  here, 
and  how  can  you  leave  ?  The  dame  would 
miss  so  good  a  hand  as  yourself" 

"  Och,  oogh  !  the  devil  a  bit  would  mistress 
Bonny  be  after  missing  Paul ;  and  she's  a , 
good  woman,  too,  that  same  Misthress  Bonny." 
"Ah,  Paul,  it  was  a  bad  business  that,  your 
leaving  the  Merry  Christmas  to  sail  under  land 
colours."  "  Indeed  an  it  was,  Admiral  Lowe,  an 
Paul  wud  like  agin  to  be  in  the  fleet."  "  Well 
Paul,  I  must  not  rdb  the  dame,  but  I  will  see 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  33 

her,  and   if  she   wills,  you  shall  be  on  board 
the  brig  ere  this  time  on  the  morrow." 

'^  Thank  yer  honour,  blissins  on  yer  owld 
head,"  said  the  grateful  Paul,  turning  to  leave 
the  apartment;  but  the  admiral  called  him 
back.  '*  Paul,  (said  he)  I  have  something  on 
hand  which  behooves  me  to  put  you  ''  on 
duty.  You  remember  that  some  thirteen  or 
fourteen  years  ago,  you  were  charged  with  an 
infant  child  to  deliver  at  the  house  of  a  burgher 
in  the  settlement;  one  Oolen  Von  Brooter. 
Yes,  yes,  yer  honour;  I  do,  an  by  the  same 
token  that  she's  the  swatest  lass  in  the  whole 
colony  at  this  day.  Paul  has  kept  his  eye  on 
the  bit  babby,  and  there's  not  a  sowl  in  the 
Orange,  (Paul  meant  Nieuw  Orange  pro- 
bably) fore  an  aft  that  wud  'nt  go  to  the 
death  for  Miss  Elvellane ;  och  Admiral, 
(continued  Paul,  launching  forth  in  expatiation 
upon  his  favourite,)  she's  a  swate  cratur  an 
she  is,  minny  blessins  on  her  head ;  she  saved 
Paul  from  the  powney  and  the  powst  wonst, 
and  when  the  puncheon  in  the  cellar  (bad  luck 
to  it)  rowled  off  the  skidd,  and  browk  my  arm, 
was  nt  it  she  the  darlint  that  even  came  here 
herself  to  see  Paul,  and  bring  him  swates  and 
bandage  his  arm,  an  make  him  comfortable 
like,  an  she  too  a  stranger  to  Paul,  and  niver 
laid  eyes  on  him  afore  as  she  knowed,  ounly 
Paul  knows  that  she  did  wonst  afore,  and  that 
was  when  he  carried  the  swate  rheud  bleugh, 
and  left  her  at  Oolen  Von  Brooters."  ''  Well 
Paul,  well,"  interrupted  the  admiral,  smiling  at 
the  Irishman's  affection,  and  feeling  assured, 
that  he   would  go    any  length    to  serve  the 


34  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

**  swate  cratur ;"  but  at  the  same  time  admo 
nislied  by  a  small  golden  repeater  lying  on  the 
table  by  his  sword,  that  time  **  was  waning 
apace."  ''  Would  you  like  to  do  Miss  Elvellynne 
a  service '?"  "  Faix,  an  that  same  wud  I."  "Very 
well  then,  Paul,  now  listen  to  me,  and  only  an- 
swer the  questions  which  I  shall  put  to  you, 
and  I  will  show  you  how  you  can  tenfold  re- 
pay all  the  kindness  w^hich  Elvellynne  De 
Montford  has  ever  shown  you."  The  grate- 
ful Paul's  eyes  ghstened  with  moisture  at  the 
thought ;  and  the  admiral  proceeded.  ''  Are  you 
well  acquainted  with  the  city,  Paul  ?"  '^  Yer 
honour,  I  am,"  replied  Paul,  careful  to  avoid 
any  unnecessary  words,  as  Low^e  had  directed 
him.  '^  Could  you,  in  an  emergency,  find  stow- 
age for  three,  so  close  that  the  Hoofd-Schout, 
(high  sheriff)  if  close  at  their  heels,  should  not 
come  upon  them.  ''  Faix,"  Misthur  Admiral, 
an  that's  what  I  could  by  the  same  token  that  I 
have  had  a  little  hexperience  in  the  same," 
(Paul  had  been  an  arrant  rogue,  and  given  more 
trouble  to  the  city  authorities  than  any  other 
man  in  the  settlement.)  "  Very  well"  said  the 
admiral ;  but  farther,  do  you  know  the  Stadt 
Huys.  "  Yes,  yer  honour."  "  And  the  prison 
cells  beneath."  "Ah,  an  it's  there  Paul's  at 
home,  yer  honour,  by  the  same  towdien  that 
he's  been  a  tinant  rent  free  thray  times  widin 
ayteen  months." 

"  That  will  do,  then,  very  w^ell.  Do  you, 
know  who  Elvellynne  De  Montford  is."  ^'  No, 
yer  honour,  ownly  that  owld  Mary  give  her  to 
me,  and  towld  me  where  to  take  her,  blessins 


^  ADMIRAL    LOWE.  '  35 

on  her  sowl."  '*  Well,  Paul,"  said  the  Admiral, 
approaching  closer  to  him,  ''  I  told  you  I  had 
something  on  hand,  and  something  for  you  to 
do :  now  I  will  tell  you  what  it  is.  I  know 
you  of  old,  Paul,  to  be  trusty  and  faithful  ;  for 
you  were  able  to  go  to  the  main  truck  before 
you  were  five  years  old,  and  never  left  my 
ship  till  three  years  ago  ;  but  nevertheless  you 
know  the  laws  of  the  Merry  Christmas  and  the 
fate  of  treachery.  You  remember  James  Don- 
noven,  the  Swede  ?"  ''  Aye,  faix,  an'  I  do." 
**  That  is  sufficient.  Do  you  know  a  Captain 
La  Vincent,  a  British  officer,  who  is  cruising 
about  in  these  waters  in  pursuit  of  pirates,  and 
commands  the  Greyhound  sloop  of  war?" 
**  Yes,  yer  honour  ;  I  've  sane  him  at  the  Al- 
derman's ;  and  a  nate  sprig  he  is,  barrin'  his 
trade."  ''  Well,  Paul,  this  same  Captain  La 
Vincent  was  fool-hardy  enough  to  leave  his 
vessel  last  night,  and  come  ashore  to  see  the 
maiden  called  Elvellynne  De  Montford.  The 
authorities  have  laid  violent  hands  on  him,  and 
he  is  now  a  prisoner  in  the  Stadt  Huys.  To- 
morrow there  is  to  be  a  trial,  and  before  this 
tijne  twenty-four  hours  the  prisoner  will  swing 
from  the  old  tree  by  the  fort,  unless  rescued  to- 
night ;  and  I  have  sent  for  you,  Paul,  to  get 
him  free.     You  must  do  it." 

Paul  started  back  in  utter  astonishment. 
He  knew  the  Admiral  to  be  at  swords'  points 
with  the  British,  and  knew  that  orders  had  been 
given  out  through  the  fleet,  that  every  English- 
man taken  should  have  his  nose  slit  in  three 
places.     This  rancour  had  been  occasioned  by 


36  THE  brigantine:  or,  ^ 

the  taking  of  one  of  the  schooners  in  the  fleet 
by  a  cruiser  of  King  Charles,  and  her  crew 
being  all  hanged  by  the  King's  officers.  But 
here  was  the  Admiral,  in  the  very  height  of  his 
power — (the  pirates  were  very  numerous  and 
bold  at  that  date)  —  the  man  from  whom  the 
order  to  mutilate  had  proceeded,  about  to  un- 
dertake the  liberation  of  one  against  whose 
whole  nation  the  utmost  cruelty  and  rigour  had 
been  declared  and  exercised.  It  was  this  re- 
flection flashing  across  honest  Paul's  mind  that 
caused  him  involuntarily  to  start  back  and 
exclaim,  **  But  he's  a  Briton,  yer  honour.'' 

''  True,  Paul,"  responded  the  Admiral  in  a 
determined  tone,  ''  but  he  must  be  liberated, 
and  that  too  not  for  his  sake,  but  that  of  Elvel- 
lynne  de  Montford,  whom  you  will  serve  more 
than  in  any  other  way  by  attending  to  my  in- 
structions." 

Reconciled  to  the  thought  of  liberating  a 
Briton  by  the  reflection  that  he  was  about  to 
serve  his  benefactress,  Paul  lent  an  attentive 
ear  while  the  Admiral  unfolded  to  him  the 
existing  relation  of  affairs  between  Elvellynne 
and  her  lover.  A  plan  was  formed  for  the  li- 
beration of  the  unfortunate  young  officer,  and 
the  Admiral  again  seated  himself  at  the  table, 
desiring  Paul  to  call  Jacques,  and  giving  him 
the  parting  admonition  to  '^  remember  the 
trysting  tree  two  hours  after  bell-ringing." 
AVith  a  hght  heart,  Paulus  Spleutcher  left  the 
little  apartment,  and  sought  out  the  elderly- 
looking  tar  with  whom  the  dame  had  been 
conversing  when  first  summoned  to  attend 
upon  the  Admiral 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  37 


CHAPTER    III. 

We  left  Elvellynne  De  Montford  seated  in 
the  old  arm  chair  in  her  little  retreat.     The. 
sun  was  just  descending_the  western  horizon, 
and  beaming  brightly  through  the  open  case- 
ment, playing  around  her  feet  in  golden  streaks, 
asif  in  very  mockery  of  her  feelings.     There 
had  she  sat  in  that  chair  for  four  long  hours, 
without  scarcely  changing  her  position,  rumi- 
nating over  the  change  that  a  few  hours  had 
wrought  in  her  destiny,  and  endeavouring  to 
light  upon  some  plan  by  which  she  might  be  of 
service  to  her  lover.     A  thousand  and  a  thou- 
sand expedients  suggested  themselves  to  her, 
which,   upon  deliberation,  were  severally  re- 
jected as  fast  as  made.     At  one  time  she  re- 
solved to  go  and  throw  herself  at  the  Gover- 
nor's feet,  and  plead  with  him  in  sohtude  for 
that  leniency  which  she  had  seen  him  so  little 
disposed  to  exercise  in  public.     Then  she  re- 
flected that  if  so  strong  a  corroboration  of  tes- 
timony as  had  been  made  in  behalf  of  La  Vin- 
cent would  not  move  him,  what  could  the  sup- 
plications of  a  maiden  effect,  who  was  praying 
for  merely  a  granted  favout*.     Again  she  turn- 
ed her  thoughts  to  the  prison-house,  and  exert- 
ed all  her  energies  in  futile  attempts  to  plan 
some  means  of  effecting  the  prisoner's  escape.  ^^ 
Here  too  she  was  repulsed  by  failure;   and  in- . 
these  vain  attempts  she  passed  the  time,  till 
4 


38  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

the  sombre  twilight  had  come  and  gone,  and 
the  first  darkness  of  night  was  fast  setting  in. 
Every  moment  was  bringing  nearer  the  dread- 
ed morrow,  and  she  shuddered  and  groaned 
audibly  as  she  thought  of  her  lover  suffering 
an  ignominious  death  in  a  distant  land,  far 
from -friends  and  home,  and  without  one  friend 
to  soothe  his  last  moments,  one  consoling  word 
to  cheer  him ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  hoots, 
hisses,  and  revilings  of  the  gazing  mob.  In 
this  terrible  state  of  distraction  and  agony,  over- 
come by  her  mental  exertions,  all  hopelessly 
exercised,  and  frantic  with  doubt,  fear,  and 
perplexity,  she  uttered  a  faint,  half-smothered 
exclamation,  and  sunk  lifeless  in  the  chair. 
At  this  moment  the  figure  of  a  man  was  visi- 
ble at  the  window  peering  cautiously  around 
in  the  room,  and  in  another  moment  the  person* 
of  Ephraim  Lowe  passed  through  the  aperture, 
and  gently  lifting  the  lifeless  form  of  the  madi- 
en  in  his  powerful  arms,  he  leapt  through  the 
same  passage,  and  vaulting  the  low  fence, 
stood  in  the  open  street. 

With  a  swift  and  noiseless  step,  the  Admiral 
glided  around  the  corner  of  Nieuw  Straat,  and 
emerged  upon  the  trottoir  in  Princess-street, 
before  alluded  to.  Passing  down  Princess- 
street,  and  in  front  of  Alderman  Von  Brooter's 
house,  he  was  met  by  one  of  the  city  watch, 
already  set,  who  opposed  his  farther  progress. 

*'  Ah,  what  have  you  there,  sirrah  ?"  (said  the 

watch,  not  recognising  through  the  darkness  the 

'^form   of  the  lifeless   girl,   but   mistaking  the 

white  drapery  for  some  stolen  goods,  and  the 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  39 

Admiral  for  a  thief,)  '*  Come,  come,  I've  got 
you  this  bout  at  last,  my  hearty,"  and  laying 
his  hand  upon  the  Admiral's  shoulder  declared 
him  a  prisoner. 

'' Pass  on  and  leave  me  unmolested,"  said 
the  Admiral  in  a  stern  harsh  voice,  but  the 
v^atchman  elated  with  his  success  at  nabbing  a 
supposed  thief,  and  dreaming  in  golden  visions 
of  the  reward  which  would  fall  to  him,  showed 
no  uidications  of  obeying  the  command,  but  in 
a  very  summary  manner,  commenced  hauling 
along  his  prize,  The  Admiral  with  one  arm 
pushed  him  aside  and  succeeded  in  passing 
him  on  the  trottoir.  But  the  sturdy  Charley 
again  seized  his  prize,  and  w^as  about  to  raise 
an  alarm,  when  Lowe  shifting  his  burden  from 
the  right  to  the  left  arm,  struck  the  unfortunate 
guardian  of  the  night  full  on  the  head.  The 
man  fell  lifeless  and  never  spoke  more.  The 
blow  intended  only  to  silence  had  fallen  with 
such  force  as  to  crash  through  the  skull,  leav- 
ing the  indentation  of  four  knuckles.  Again 
the  Admiral  pursued  his  course,  and  unmolest- 
ed arrived  at  Dame  Benny's.  Passing  through 
the  side  door  in  Garden-street,  he  entered  the 
apartment  where  we  have  before  seen  him,  and 
depositing  his  burden  upon  a  rude  settee  in  one 
corner,  summoned  the  dame,  under  whose  hands 
and  kind  attention  Elvellynne  soon  recovered. 
'  The  Admiral  was  seated  by  her,  kindly 
chafing  her  little  hand  and  exciting  dame 
Bonny  to  accelerate  her  movements.  ''Indeed, 
Admiral,"  returned  the  dame,  (as  he  again 
urged  her  to  expedite  her  motions  a  little)  ''  in- 


40  THE  brigantine:  or, 

deed  I  am  making  all  haste,  the  maiden  is 
doing  well  and  you  will  soon  enough  hear  the 
rating  of  her  tongue,  when  she  finds  how  she 
came  here,  but  you  are  a  kind  man.  Admiral," 
continued  the  dame,  struck  with  his  solicitude, 
''  and  take  as  much  interest  in  the  girl,  as  if  she 
were  your  own  bone  and  flesh."  A  momenta- 
ry clond  flitted  across  the  pirate's  truly  fine 
face,  at  the  dame's  random  suggestion,  but  im- 
mediately the  features  settled  down  in  an  ex- 
pression of  calm  melancholy,  and  he  again  be- 
took himself  more  assiduously  than  before  to 
his  occupation  of  chafing  Elvellynne's  cold 
hand.  While  the  dame  was  absent  for  some 
strong  waters,  (the  only  orthodox  restorative  in 
those  days)  Elvellynne  opened  her  eyes  and 
gradually  returned  to  a  state  of  consciousness. 
At  first  she  was  bewildered,  on  gazing  around 
the  apartment  and  finding  every  thing  new  and 
unknown  to  her  and  a  stranger  by  her  side,  so 
familiarly  but  kindly  attending  her.  Her  first 
question  was,  ''  Where  am  I  ?" 

''  Safe,"  replied  the  Admiral,  and  stooping 
down  he  whispered  in  the  maiden's  ear  a 
word.  Elvellynne  started  from  the  couch  with 
a  sudden  motion  and  spoke.  ''Prove,  it"  said 
she,  ''prove  it,  and" — here  the  portly  dame 
rustled  through  the  door,  but  at  a  waive  of  the 
Admiral's  hand,  again  retired.  Lowe  took  El- 
vellynne's hand  aflfectionately  in  his  own,  "  You 
had,'i  said  he,  "  a  small  locket,  with  a  golden 
back  on  which  was  inscribed  the  initials,  A. 
H,  have  you  the  locket  now?"  Elvellynne 
drew  from  her  bosom  the  trinket  and  handed  it 


At)MIRAL    LOWE.  41 

to  him.  ^  He  looked  at  it  attentively  for  a  mo- 
ment and  placing  his  thumb  on  one  side  slight- 
ly pressed  the  edge.  The  back  moved  on  its 
hinge  and  disclosed  to  Elvellyne's  wondering 
eyes,  the  face  and  bust  of  a  beautiful  woman 
with  a  coronet  on  her  brow  of  strawberry 
leaves,  and  a  row  of  pearls  above  the  leaves. 
The  miniature  bore  a  marvellous  resemblance 
to  herself,  and  she  gazed  on  it  for  a  long 
time  in  silence.  ^'  It's  your  mother,  your 
own  dear  mother,"  at  length  said  the  Admiral, 
producing  another  miniature,  its  counterpart, 
from  his  own  bosom,  '*and  you  are  very  like 
her."  The  old  man  gazed  long  and  fondly  on 
the  features  of  the  lovely  girl,  and  then  avert- 
ed his  head  with  a  sigh.  The  heavy  jarring 
sound  of  the  old  bell  in  the  fort  was  at  that 
moment  heard  pealing  along  the  narrow  street 
and  warning  all  good  people  that  it  was  nine 
o'clock,  and  the  hour  to  retire.  The  Admiral 
started  up,  and  going  to  the  small  door,  called 
Jacques,  and  asked  him  if  the  boat  was  all 
ready,  and  the  men  within  call.  He  was  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  when  giving  the  man 
Jacques  particular  injunctions  to  be  under  the 
bridge  with  the  boat  in  two  hours,  he  closed  the 
door  and  again  seated  himself  near  Elvellynne. 
Taking-  her  hand  ag-ain  he  disclosed  to  her  the 
object  and  original  cause  of  her  being  in  that 
strange  place. 

"  Elvellynne  de  Montford,"  said  he,  ^^you 
love  Charles  la  Vincent  ?"  Elvellynne  blushed, 
but  fimrly  answered,  ^'  I  do.",  ''  And  you  would 
feel  your  heart's  wish  gratified  if  he  was  be- 

4-^ 


42  THE  brigantine:  or, 

yond  the  reach  of  danger."  Elvellynne  again 
replied,  ''  I  would."  "  Well  then,"  continued 
the  old  man,  "  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say  and 
ere  to  morrow's  dawn  you  shall  see  him  free." 

Elvellynne  sunk  at  his  feet  and  bathed  his 
hands  with  kisses  and  tears  of  joy.  Lowe  then 
unfolded  to  her  his  plot  and  the  part  which  she 
was  to  play,  and  under  dame  Bonny's  hands 
she  was  soon  equipped  in  a  pair  of  thick  shoes, 
hat  and  shawl,  and  other  articles  of  cumbrous 
shape,  which  the  good  dame  insisted  on  her 
wearing  as  preventives  against  cold  and  the 
night  air.  Indeed,  if  history  speaks  truly  the 
dame  pressed  upon  her  acceptance  a  small  pock- 
et flagon  of  that  same  vaunted  Hollands  which 
she  had  before  lauded  so  highly  and  urged  so 
strongly  to  the  Admiral,  during  the  afternoon, . 
but  the   maiden   gently  declined  the   proffer. 

Lowe  was  pacing  up  and  down  the  narrow 
apartment  with  the  habit  of  a  sailor,  and  cast- 
ing ever  and  anon,  an  impatient  glance  at  the 
repeater  on  the  table,  which  admonished  him 
that  the  hour  was  fleeting  by,  when  Paulus 
Spleutcher  made  his  appearance.  "  Come, 
come,  Paul,"  said  the  Admiral  impatiently,  lay- 
ing aside  his  sword  and  gold  laced  coat,  and 
taking  from  the  wall  an  old  looking  garment 
which  he  donned,  "you  are  late,  you  were  not 
wont  to  be  so  tardy."  "  Aye,  yer  honour,  but 
I've  bin  recoiterin,  (Paul  meant  reconnoitering,) 
and  it's  all  as  still  as  a  hurricane  of  my  own 
coonthry.  There's  Slapy  Jim  has  the  inner 
watch,  and  Spiteful  Jo  the  outer,  and  slapy 
enough  it  is  he'd  be  by  this  time,  by  the  same 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  43 

towken  that  he  and  I  smowked  a  bit  pipe  the- 
gither,  jist  afore  the  watch."  ^'Why,  what 
should  make  him  sleepy,  Paul  ?"  inquired  the 
Admiral.  ''  Troth  and  becase,"  replied  the 
quick-witted  Irishman,  ''I  spiced  his  pipe." 
"  Spiced  ?  spiced?"  repeated  Lowe,  not  under- 
standing him,  ''  what  may  that  be,  Paul  T 
"  Faix,  and  ''only  that  I  mixed  up  a  bit  opium 
with  the  tobaccy." 

The  Admiral  smiled,  and  Elvellynne  com- 
plimented Paul  on  his  ingenuity,  '  The  Admi- 
ral left  the  room  for  a  moment,  passing  into 
the  little  tap-room  beyond,  where  on  the  floor 
lay  stretched  three  swarthy-faced  mariners, 
fast  asleep ;  a  third  was  sitting  in  a  corner,  ap- 
parently keeping  a  watch  and  regaling  himself 
with  a  good  old  Dutch  pipe.  Him  the  Admi- 
ral accosted,  stepping  noiselessly  over  the 
sleepers,  by  the  name  of  Jacques,*  bidding  him 
to  arouse  the  crew  and  prepare  for  departure. 

It  was  midnight,  when  three  figures  might 
be  seen  stealthily  passing  along  the  trottoir 
which  flanks  the  Here-Graft.  A  stout  athletic 
looking  man  led  the  little  party,  seemingly  acting 
as  commander ;  the  centre  position  was  occupied 
by  a  female,  while  a  tall  slim  figure  with  a 
bludgeon  in  his  hand  brought  up  the  rear. 
Their  movements  were  very  guarded,  and  to 
see  figures,  other  than  thos'e  of  the  watch, 
abroad  at  that  late  hour  of  the  night  boded  no 
good.  The  little  party  kept  well  within  the 
shadow  of  the  buildings,  to  avoid  as  much  as 
possible  the  bright  glare  of  a  harvest  moon, 


44  THE  BRIGANTINE  I   OR, 

shining  with  ahnost  the  intensity  of  midday 
and  throwing  a  mantle  of  mellowed  golden  hue 
around  every  thing.  Occasionally  as  they 
emerged  from  the  dark  shade  of  the  buildings 
upon  a  vacant  lot,  they  too  were  momentarily 
flooded  in  the  broad  heaving  light,  but  these 
conspicuous  places  were  rapidly  passed  over, 
and  as  much  as  possible  avoided  by  the  leader. 

It  was  at  one  of  these  vacant  lots  where 
formerly  had  been  a  fence,  bat  which  was  now 
half  thrown  down,  that  the  athletic  figure 
above  alluded  to  as  the  leader  stopped  sud- 
denly, and  raised  his  finger  as  an  intimation. of 
silence  to  his  two  companions. 

There  was  a  heavy  trampling  of  feet  as  if 
in  regular  march,  now  distinctly  audible,  and 
occasionally  a  jarring  ring  of  metal,  as  if  two 
muskets  had  come  in  collision.  As  the 
sounds  approached  nearer,  the  leader  cautious- 
ly stepped  in  behind  the  angle  of  the  dilapi- 
dated fence  and  beckoned  the  other  two  to 
follow.  Here  a  passing  colloquy  ensued  be- 
tween the  chief  and  him  of  the  bludgeon,  in  a 
low  whisper  which  ended  iti  the  latter  of  the 
two  figures  stepping  a  little  forwards  to  a  po- 
sition, where,  without  being  himsjBlf  seen,  he 
could  reconnoitre  the  w^hole  street.  This  po- 
sition was  not  long  maintained,  however,  for 
the  figure  suddenly  dodged  again  to  his  hiding- 
place  behind  the  fence.  ''  What  is  it,  Paul  ?" 
asked   the  athletic  man,  "  the    relief  guard  ? 

but  'tis  not  yet  time  for" "  Hist,  hist,  yer 

honour,"  replied  the  tall  one,  *'  and  kape  as 
quite  as  an  unhatched  babby." 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  45 

The  heavy  regular  tramp  of  men  was  now 
very  audible,  and  every  moment  drawing 
nearer.  ^'  The  hoofd  schout,  the  hoofd  schout," 
whispered  Paul,  as  the  high  sheriff  with  a 
guard  of  ten  soldiers  passed  the  little  party's 
hiding  place,  and  proceeded  up  the  Here-Graft 
in  the  direction  of  Dame  Bonny's.  "  Aye,  and 
I  fear  me  there's  mischief  in  the  wind,"  re: 
turned  the  Admiral. 

So  soon  as  the  guard  were  lost  to  sight,  our 
little  party  again  sallied  forth  and  took  up  the 
line  of  march  down  the  Here-Graft,  using  the 
same  precautions  as  before,  till  coming  to  the 
mole  they  turned  to  the  left,  and  followed  the 
course  of  the  bay  along  Dock-street,  now  PearL 

The  Stadt  Huys  in  which  the  prisoners  were 
confined  was  a  large  square  two-story  building 
standing  on  Dock-street  and  fronting  on  Coen- 
ties  Slip.  Under  the  building  ran  a  large  arch 
which  supported  the  council-chamber  above. 
The  base  of  this  arch,  or  the  distance  from  one 
springing  line  to  the  other,  was  probably  ten 
feet.  From  this  passage,  on  either  side,  went 
off  the  cells  which  contained  the  prisoners, 
having  heavy  iron-studded  doors  opening  into 
the  passage  or  arch.  Here  it  was  common  to 
have  a  sentry  pacing  along  before  the  build- 
ing, so  that  at  every  turn  he  passed  by  the 
mouth  of  the  arch.  Owing  to  the  increase  of 
prisoners  from  the  capture  of  La  Vincent  and 
his  boat's  crew,  a  double  guard  had  been  set 
of  two  sentries,  one  of  whom  was  pacing  be- 
fore the  building  by  the  mouth  of  the  arch,  and 
who  has  before  been  designated  by  Paul  as 


46 

'^Spiteful  Jo,"  probably  from  his  no  very  amia- 
ble disposition  of  temper;  the  other  was  keep- 
ing guard  within,  the  same  whom  Paul  had 
styled  ''  Slapy  Jim,"  from  the  great  attention 
he  paid  to  his  slumbers. 

Sleepy  Jim  was  now  enjoying  the  effects  of 
the  opiate  which  Paul  had  previously  adminis- 
tered to  him,  and  the  old  arch  loudly  echoed 
with  his  nasal  music.  A  dim  lamp  suspended 
from  the  iutrados  of  the  arch  threw  its  feeble 
light  over  the  damp  slimy  walls  and  whole  in- 
terior, disclosing  the  cell  doors,  on  each  of 
which  was  a  large  number,  and  showing  the 
heavy  form  of  the  sleeping  sentry  stretched  on 
the  brick  floor,  with  his  musket  by  his  side,  and 
a  large  bunch. of  heavy  antique-looking  keys 
at  his  girdle. 

The  little  party  had  gradually  approached 
the  building  by  Dock-street,  until  fairly  up  to 
it,  w^here  an  angle  of  the  wall  served  to  hide 
them  from  the  sentry  pacing  outside. 

'^  Och,  murther,  but  if  St.  Pathrick  wud  ownly 
pit  his  blissin  upon  us  an  douse  the  moon," 
muttered  Paul,  '^  thin  the  bit  gallant  would  be 
safe  enough."  Here  Lowe  whispered  some  in- 
struction to  Paul,  which  resulted  in  his  retrac- 
ing the  way  along  Dock-street  for  the  distance 
of  a  hundred  yards,  carefully  creeping  along 
the  shade  of  the  buildings  till  having  gained  the 
desired  situation,  and  watching  an  opportunity 
whe^  the  sentry  was  pacing  from  him,  he  boldly 
sallied  out  to  the  middle  of  the  street,  and  com- 
menced humming  an  air.  Louder  and  louder 
grew  Paul's  song  as  he  gradually  approached 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  47 

the  sentry  with  the  air  of  a  drunken  man,  till 
"  Saint  Patrick's  day  in  the  morning"  echoed 
loud  and  long  through  the  lonely  street.  Elvel- 
lynne  could  not  suppress  a  smile,  and  the  Ad- 
miral in  a  whisper  expressed  his  fears  lest  the 
inner  sentry  should  be  awakened  by  honest 
Paul's  boisterous  and  unrelenting  melody. 

On  he  came,  enumerating  at  the  top  of  his 
lungs  the  good  deeds  of  the  blissid  Saint  Pa- 
thrick,  till  admonished  by  '*  Spiteful  Jo"  to 
cease  his  noisy  merriment.  The  supposed 
drunken  Irishman,  incensed  at  having  his  na- 
tional melody  inteprupted,  straightway  began 
to  revile  the  sentry  with  interest.  "  Och  'on, 
ye  dirty  blackgyard,  may  the  divil  chowk  yee's, 
bad  looks  to  ye  an  the  like  o'  yee's,  for  inther- 
ruptin  the  song  of  the  blissid  Saint  Pathrick, 
an  he  too  a  blissin  de  craps  and  de  harvest." 
*'  Get  along  with  you,  you  drunken  Paddy," 
retorted  the  sentry,  "  or  I'll  clap  you  under  the 
arch  here."  *^  Faix  an  it's  that  same  that  you 
cud'nt  do.  Hout  tout,  ye're  a  dirty  baste,  Mis- 
thur  Sentry,  an  so  ye  are,  ye  spiteful  divil," 
returned  Paul,  in  hopes  to  allure  the  sentry 
from  his  post,  and  thus  give  the  Admiral  an 
opportunity  of  slipping  from  his  hiding-place 
under  the  arch.  But  the  sentry  was  not  thus 
easily  to  be  beguiled,  and  obstinately  persisted 
in  keeping  his  post  notwithstanding  all  the  re- 
vilings  of  Paul.  The  Admiral  saw  the  dilem- 
ma, and  feared  least  through  the  obstinacy  or 
phlegmatic  disposition  of  the  soldier  the  whole 
plot  would  be  marred.  But  the  quick-witted 
Irishman,  not  at  all  at  a  loss,  after  brandishing 


48  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

his  shillelagh,  and  manfully  demanding  satis- 
faction of  the  sentry  for  the  insult  received, 
reeled  along  towards  the  building,  from  behind 
an  angle  of  which,  directly  opposite  to  the  side 
where  Elvellynne  and  the  Admiral  were  en- 
sconced, he  commenced  most  manfully  to  peb- 
ble the  sentry  into  some  kind  of  life,  all  the 
while  interlarding  his  pebbly  shower  with 
some  such  phrases  as  the  following — "  Ah,  ha  ! 
take  that,  ye  dirty  divil,  rustyer  owldbownes." 
And  then  when  a  successful  shot  would  ring 
on  the  soldier's  steel  cap — ''  Hughk,  ye  spal- 
pane,  how  does  that  sit  on  yer  bit  nob."  By 
a  succession  of  successful  throws,  the  sentry 
was  at  last  whipped  up  to  a  state  of  anger, 
and  leaving  his  post,  he  rushed  at  the  patriotic 
Irishman,  who  was  peeping  from  behind  the 
wall,  and  ever  and  anon  letting  fly  a  specimen 
of  "  ground  apples."  But  the  brave  Paddy 
was  not  inclined  to  stand  against  a  fixed  bayo- 
net, and  with  a  drunken  reel  started  olf,  at  the 
same  time  accosting  the  soldier  with,  '^  Arrah, 
my  hinney,  but  jist  lay  dowm  yer  bit  baggonet, 
and  try  a  bout  at  stick  wid  me,  and  Patrick 
O'Doolen's  yer  man."  The  sentry,  however, 
was  not  at  all  inclined  to  comply  with  the  ene- 
my's request,  but  determining  to  avail  himself 
of  the  "  chance  of  war,"  followed  up  in  hot  pur- 
suit after  the  Irishman,  who  was  constantly 
running  against  posts  and  tumbling  over  and 
over,  but  all  the  w^hile  taking  good  care  to  keep 
a  respectable  distance  between  himself  and  the 
enraged  soldier.  Meanwhile  the  Admiral,  hav- 
ing first  repeated  to  Elvellynne  her  instruc- 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  49 

tions,  slipped  round  the  angle  of  the  building 
which  had  concealed  him,  and  under  the  arch. 
Here  he  found,  as  has  been  before  stated, 
*'  Sleepy  Jira"  enjoying  the  sweets  of  repose, 
not  at  all  disturbed  by  the  din  which  had  been 
created  without.  Stooping  to  ascertain  that 
the  soldier  was  really  asleep,  the  Admiral  took 
from  his  girdle  the  bunch  of  rusty  keys  and 
proceeded  to  the  door  marked  as  number  ten.  It 
was  far  back  in  the  vault,  and  at  some  distance 
from  the  sentries.  After  trying  two  or  three 
keys,  he  at  last  introduced  one  which  turned 
harshly  in  the  lock,  and  the  door  swung  slowly 
open.  On  a  rude  pallet,  in  the  corner,  lay  the 
object  of  his  search,  as  calmly  sleeping  as  if  in 
the  cabin  of  his  own  ship.  His  clothes,  with 
the  exception  of  his  coat,  had  not  been  doffed, 
which,  together  with  his  cocked-hat,  was  depo- 
sited carefully  in  one  corner. 

The  sentry,  after  chasing  Paul  without  suc- 
cess, and  finding  that  he  could  not  come  up 
with  the  light-footed  marauder,  abandoned  the 
pursuit  as  useless,  and  with  a  chop-fallen  coun- 
tenance returned  to  his  post., 

Elvellynne  trembled  as  she  saw  the  soldier 
once  more  pacing  before  the  vault.  She  had  just 
seen  how  difficult  it  had  been  to  lure  him  from  his 
post,  and  feared  lest  the  second  attempt,  which 
she  herself  was  to  make,  should  be  a  total  fail- 
ure. ,  The  maiden's  heart  tren^bled  within  her 
at  the  thought  of  the  dreadful  to-morrow,  if  such 
should  be  the  event ;  still  she  relied  strongly 
upon  the  resources  of  the  pirate,  that  wonderful 
man,  who  had  already  gained  an  unaccountable 
5 


60  THE  brigantine:  or, 

influence  over  her.  But  to  return  to  the  pri- 
soner within.  There  was  sufficient  hght 
through  the  chink  of  a  window,  to  allow  the 
Admiral  to  discern  objects  around  the  cell.  At 
first  he  feared  lest  the  sleeper  should  awaken 
in  alarm,  and  make  some  outcry,  but,  placing 
his  hand  on  the  prisoner's  breast,  La  Vincent 
opened  his  eyes  and  calmly  demanded  who 
was  there.  ''Hist,  hist,"  said  Lowe,  *'or  we 
are  lost !  get  up  and  follow  me,  and  you  will 
escape  the  certain  death  which  awaits  you." 
To  his  utter  astonishment.  La  Vincent  refused 
to  avail  himself  of  the  proffered  opportunity  to 
escape,  but  resolutely  determined  to  abide  by 
the  decision  of  the  morrow's  investigation,  rely- 
ing upon  his  Jionourable  intentions  for  coming 
into  the  city,  and  asserting  that  on  a  second 
trial,  he  could  convince  the  court  of  the  same, 
and  thus  be  honourably  discharged  from  an  im- 
prisonment which  he  felt  convinced  had  been 
the  result  of  misconception.  ''  No,  no,  old 
man,"  continued  the  young  Englishman,  ''  who- 
ever you  are,  I  thank  you  for  your  kindness 
and  zeal,  but  cannot  honourably  avail  myself 
of  this  opportunity,  which  must  have  been  the 
result  of  much  forethought  and  artifice,  to  ena- 
ble you  to  gain  peaceable  access  to  a  place  so 
well  guarded  as  this." 

"  Not  avail  yourself!  "  repeated  the  Admiral, 
disconcerted  at  the  young  officer's  calm  resolu- 
tion, *'  why  you  may  as  well  attempt  to  con- 
vince a  nor'-wester  as  the  court.  But  come, 
young  man,"  said  the  Admiral,  sternly,  ''  this 
is  no  time  or  place  for  jesting;  if  you  value. 


ADMIRAL  Lowe.  51 

your  life  a  straw,  you  will  follow  me  and  thank 
Elvellynne  De  Montford  for  your  escape,"  so 
saying  the  old  man  turned,  as  if  about  to  leave 
the  apartment,  when  he  was  called  back  by 
lia  Vincent.  Thinking  that  he  was  about  to 
consent  and  leave  the  prison,  Lowe  gave  the 
preconcerted  signal,  (a  cough,)  to  let  his  con- 
federates without  understand,  that  it  was  time 
for  them  to  commence  their  parts.  At  the  sig- 
nal Elvellynne's  breath  grew  short,  but  with  an 
effort,  she  summoned  up  all  her  resolution,  and 
^^  tracking  back,"  as  Paul  had  done  before,  she 
walked  deliberately  down  the  street,  and  passed 
before  the  sentry.  Paul,  in  the  mean  time, 
had  crept  up  very  close  to  the  scene,  and  lay 
behind  an  old  timber-head,  watching  for  El- 
vellynne's appearance.  No  sooner  did  he  see 
her,  than,  leaving  his  place  of  concealment,  the 
pseudo-drunken  Irishman  reeled  along  up, 
and  commenced  a  course  of  gallantries, 
which  the  damsel  not  at  all  relishing,  applied 
to  the  sentry  to  put  a  stop  to.  ''Ah!  ha! 
you  Irish  thief,  are  you  there  again  ? "  said 
^^  Spiteful  Jo,"  leaving  his  post  at  once  to  go  to 
the  relief  of  the  distressed  damsel.  "  Arrah, 
an'  it 's  that  same  I  am,  you  Dutch  divil,"  re- 
sponded Paulus  Spleutcher,  at  the  same  time 
taking  Elvellynne  up  in  his  arms,  and  making 
off  with  her  out  of  sight  of  the  vault.  The 
guard,  as  was  Expected,  followed,  and  gained 
so  fast  upon  Paul  that  he  was  obliged  to  drop 
his  burden  and  run,  the  sentry  all  the  while 
pursuing. 

Another  succession   of  falls,  tumbles,  and 


52  THE  brigantine:  or, 

lap- wing  expedients  again  lured  the  sentry  far- 
ther than  before  from  his  post,  and  quite  round 
behind  the  building,  where,  to  beguile  him, 
Paul  commenced  another  series  of  blackguard- 
ism. At  this  time  the  Admiral  cautiously 
looked  out,  and  seeing  that  the  sentry  was 
gone,  he  again  pressed  La  Vincent  to  follow. 
"  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost,"  continued  he-, 
'^  perhaps  while  we  are  now  dallying,  the  op- 
portunity may  be  lost."  '"Old  man,"  said  La 
Vincent,  ^'  I  can  not,  and  will  not,'  go*! — but  do 
you  make  good  your  retreat,  while  you  may. 
If,  if,"  and  his  voice  slightly  faltered  as  the  pos- 
sibility suggested  itself  to  him,  *'if  I  should  not 
be  able  to  convince  the  court,  and  should  be 
sentenced  to  die  the  death  of  a  spy,  tell  Elvel- 
lynne  De  Montford  that  La  Vincent's  last 
breath  was  spent  in  prayer  for  her,  and  give  her 
this  ring." 

Here,  in  one  moment,  by  an  unforeseen  ob- 
jection, was  the  whole  plan  frustrated,  an  ob- 
jection too,  that,  if  foretold,  would  have  been 
laughed  at. 

It  was  a  moment  of  suspense — of  awful  sus- 
pense— but  not  of  long  duration,  with  such  a 
man  as  Ephraim  Lowe.  With  the  arm  of  a 
giant,  he  raised  the  young  man  from  his  pallet, 
as  if  he  had  been  a  child,  and  left  the  cell 
The  door  was  closed  and  locked  after  him,' and 
in  another  moment  the  powerful  frame  of  the 
pirate  was  stooping  over  the  sleeping  sentry,  to 
deposite  the  keys.  A  pistol  from  his  bosom 
fell  upon  the  sleeper,  as  the  old  man  was  stoop- 


'   ADMIRAL    LOWE.  53 

ing  down  to  restore  the  keys,  and  awakened 
him. 

''Who  goes  there?"  cried  the  sentry,  me- 
chanically, starting  up  and  attempting  to  seize 
his  musket,  but  the  Admiral's  foot  was  upon  it, 
and  he  replied,  drawing  the  other  pistol  from 
his  bosom,  (the  mate  to  the  one  which  had 
caused  the  mischief,) — 

*'  I  go  here,  Ephraim  Lowe  !  and  a  word  of 
alarm  from  you  will  be  your  death-signal.  Fol- 
low me  !  "  said  he  sternly,  presenting  the  pistol 
to  the  sentry's  head.  The  talismanic  name 
thrilled  through  the  bosom  of  La  Vincent,  and 
struck  the  astonished  sentry  at  once  dumb.  La 
Vincent,  without  any  resistance,  gave  himself 
up  to  the  guidance  of  this  strange  and  extraor- 
dinary man,  and  ''Sleepy  Jim"  followed  in 
silence. 

The  name  of  Lowe  was  one  which  had  be- 
come truly  terrible  within  a  very  few  years,  in 
these  waters,  and  was  hardly  mentioned  by  the 
common  ignorant  people,  save  in  a  whisper, 
and  then  with  a  shudder.  The  nurses  used 
the  name  to  frighten  their  restive  charges  into 
docility,  the  slaves  were  terrified  into  obedi- 
ence and  tractability  at  the  very  sound  of  the 
dreaded  cognomen  "  mighty  Ephraim,"  and  ali 
united  in  fear  and  hate  of  this  uncommon  man, 
concerning  whom  so  little  was  really  known. 
Had  the  citizen,  when  passing  the  fine  looking 
old  man  on  the  trottoir,  been  told  that  he  was 
within  reach  of  that  dreaded  and  notable  pi- 
rate, the  honest  burgher  would  probably  have 
leapt  into  the  canal.     Every  thing  that  was 


54  THE   BRIGANXINE  ;    ORj 

dreadful  and  terrible,  had  been  attached  to 
his  name,  and  yet  the  old  man  was  so  little 
known,  as  to  be  a  frequent  visiter  at  the  city, 
roaming  all  over,  even  within  the  very  walls  of 
the  fort.  Half  of  the  wealth  of  the  city, 
would  have  been  willingly  given  for  the  pi- 
rate's head,  and  yet  the  little  city  had  never 
been  the  subject  of  his  persecution,  but  rather 
of  his  kindness.  But  the  notoriety  was  his, 
and  such  is  the  power  of  association  and  fear, 
that  he  was  believed  to  be  by  many,  nothing 
short  of  old  nick  himself.  This  dread  was  not  | 
alone  confined  to  the  lower  and  ignorant  citi- 
zens, the  canaille,  but  extended  even  to  the 
upper  classes.  It  is  not  then  to  be  wondered 
at,  that  the  name  should  have  acted  with  such 
talism^anic  power  upon  the  sentry,  and  even 
Captain  La  Vincent  himself  Proceeding  then 
in  silence,  the  three  passed  out  from  beneath 
the  arch,  and  swiftly  passed  along  by  the  same 
path  our  little  party  had  a  short  time  before 
traversed.  The  Admiral  led  the  v/ay,  keeping 
*'  sleepy  Jim"  before  him,  more  dead  than  alive, 
while  La  Vincent  followed.  It  seems  the  fate' 
of  mortals  to  be  thwarted  by  the  presence  of 
crowds,  when  they  would  wish  beyond  all 
other  times  to  be  alone.  It  was  so  in  the  pre- 
sent case,  for  when  nearly  up  to  the  bridge, 
under  which  the  admiral  had  ordered  Jacques 
to  lie  with  the  boat,  (which  once  gained,  would 
put  them  beyond  the  fear  of  pursuit,)  the 
measured  tread  of  the  patrol  going  the  rounds 
was  heard,  and  the  fugitives  were  forced  to 
screen    themselves  behind   some   old   casks. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  55 

which,  fortunately  offered  a  kindly  shelter. 
"  Stoop  low  and  be  silent,"  said  the  Admiral, 
addressing  his  captive,  and  holding  a  pistol  to 
his  head,  while  poor  James  the  Sleepy  cow- 
ered down  in  fear  and  trembling.  The  patrol 
passed,  and  were  soon  out  of  sight,  when  the 
little  party  again  moved  on.  ''Now,"  said  the 
Admiral,  as  they  approached  the  bridge,  ''  now 
we  are  safe.  Captain  La  Vincent,  I  will  thank 
you  to  stand  guard  over  this  wakeful  sentry,  for 
a  moment,  while  I  go  down."  So  saying,  the  Ad- 
?  miral  descended  the  steep  bank  whichjed  down 
to  the  canal,  and  when  low  enough  to  look 
under  the  bridge,  saw  that  all  was  clear:  there 
was  no  boat  there.  An  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise at  first  escaped  him,  and  the  thought,  that 
Paul  might  have  betrayed  him,  flashed  across 
his  mind.  But  no,  he  knew  Paul  too  well, 
had  knov/n  him  from  infancy,  and  never  found 
him  guilty  of  a  base  thing.  He  ascended  the 
bank  again  to  rejoin  those  of  his  little  party, 
and,  surprise  upon  surprise,  they  had  vanished. 
''  Foolish  boy ! "  muttered  the  old  man,  as  the 
suspicion  presented  itself  to  him  that  La  Vin- 
cent had  voluntarily  returned  to  the  prison- 
house  ;  "  he  knows  not  his  fate.  Hah  !  yon- 
der, even  now,  by  the  gleaming  moon,  I  can 
see  the  half-finished  gallows  that  the  workmen 
were  raising  to-day,  looming  up  against  the 
silvered  sky,  and  polluting  the  free  air  of  hea- 
ven with  its  tainted  form.  And  what,  what 
will  become  of  her,  who  has  based  all  her 
hopes,  all  her  fondest  expectations,  upon  him ! 
Silly,   silly  boy !  to  run  back  in  the  trap  from 


56 

which  he  had  once  been  rescued.  But  he 
must  not  and  shall  not  die  ;  and  perhaps  even 
now  I  may  overtake  him,"  said  the  old  man 
energetically,  at  the  same  time  rushing  for- 
wards. 

Scarcely  however  had  he  proceeded  a  dozen 
yards  when  the  patrol,  having  finished  the 
rounds,  and  again  on  its  way  back  to  the  bar- 
racks near  by  the  fort,  dashed  round  a  corner, 
and  into  the  street,  within  ten  feet  of  where 
Lbwe  was  standing.  To  move  would  have 
been  inevitable  detection,  and  the  old  man 
drew  himself  close  up  against  the  wall  of  the 
building,  (his  only  alternative,)  relying  upon» 
the  hurry  of  the  soldiers  to  get  back  to  the 
beds  they  had  left,  as  his  only  chance  of  escap- 
ing observation. 

The  patrol  dashed  by,  thundering  over  the 
bridge  till  beyond  hearing,  and  the  old  man 
was  just  congratulating  himself  upon  his  for- 
tunate and  hair-breadth  escape,  when  a  heavy 
hand  was  laid  upon  his  shoulder,  and  a  voice 
at  his  ear  said,  ''  Englishman,  you  are  my  pri- 
soner." He  turned,  and  the  Schout  (or  sheriff) 
stood  beside  him. 

''  But  what  if  I  will  not  go  with  thee,"  plea- 
santly suggested  Lowe,  assuming  the  calm 
forbearing  and  language  of  the  Friends,  who 
were  then  driven  hither  and  thither,  and  per- 
secuted to  the  death,  "  thou  wouldst  not,  being 
a  man  of  war  and  might,  push  me  even  unto 
the  detaining  me  from  a  lawful  calling." 

^'  Holloa,  ter  tuyvel !"  exclaimed  the  Schout, 
"  what  have  we  here  I  a  poor  drivelling  Qua- 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  57 

ker;  perhaps  Edmundson,  or  even  George 
Fox  himself?"  and  giving  the  supposed  Qua- 
ker a  buffet  or  push,  the  Schout  left  him,  and 
betook  himself  on  his  way  in  search  of  the  real 
Englishman,  who  he  little  dreamed  was  the 
man  then  before  him,  personifying  the  Quaker. 

De  Schout,  however,  had  not  gone  far  on  his 
journey  when  a  heavy  hand  was  in  turn  laid 
upon  his  shoulder,  and  the  Quaker  was  at  his 
side.  ''  Friend,"  said  he,  "  though  I  may  be 
even  as  thou  say  est,  one  Edmundson,  or  a  cer- 
tain George  Fox,  yet  will  I  not  suffer  the  in- 
dignity thou  hast  just  offered  me,  without  com- 
plaint." "Hoof!  you  w^on't,  eh!"  said  the 
Schout ;  "  well  then  1 11  give  you  something  to 
drivel  about ;"  and  drawing  his  hand  back,  he 
struck  Lowe  with  the  open  palm  across  the 
face.  "  There  !  Friend  Quaker,  take  that  for 
your  supper,  and  next  text,  saying,  '  He  smote 
them  with  a  rod  of  iron.'  ^ 

''  Verily,"  replied  Lowe,  -^ I  shall  neither  take 
that  for  my  text,  nor  shall  I  sup  on  the  blow 
which  thee  has  dealt  me,  being  a  peaceable 
man  and  unable  to  return  t^ee  the  same  coin, 
which  showeth  thee  to  be  one  of  little  valour  in 
striking  a  man  of  peace,  but  lest  thy  unruly 
temper  and  overflowing  courage  should  lead 
thee  into  some  fracas,  meeting  w4th  one  who 
will  return  thee  knocks  for  knocks,  whereby 
thou  mighst  be  worsted,  and  peradventure  sore- 
ly smitten  in  the  combat,  I  will  even,  friend,  by 
God,  (his  hand  was  on  the  Schout's  throat  with 
an  iron  grasp)  bind  thee  damned  cowardly 
arms  for  thee  and  ^  clap'  a  comfortable  '  stop- 


58  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

per  upon  thy  mouth,  lest  peradventure  thee 
takes  cold  in  the  night  air." 

The  struggling  Schout,  made  an  effort  to  free 
himself  from  the  Friend^s  grasp,  but  a  deadly 
clutch  was  upon  his  throat  which  prevented 
noise  and  soon  terminated  the  contest.  Re- 
leasing his  hold,  when  the  Schout  ceased  to 
move,  the  unfortunate  man  fell  heavily  over, 
when  Lowe,  drawing  some  cords  from  his 
pocket,  and  placing  a  knee  upon  his  back,, fast- 
ened the  hands  behind  with  a  tight  knot,  then 
taking  a  handkerchief  from  his  pocket,  he  put 
an  effectual  gag  in  the  poor  fellow's  mouth, 
but  not  before  some  returning-  siofns  of  life 
evinced  that  his  prisoner  was  not  really  dead. 
Rolling  him  over  where  he  would  not  be  dis- 
covered till  the  morning,  he  left  him  with  the 
parting  admonition,  "  Friend,  when  thee  next 
meets  one  of  my  friendly  calling;  before  thee 
attempts  to  molest  him,  first  ask  if  peradven- 
venture  his  name  be  not  Ephraim  Lowe." 
Thus  saying  he  turned  towards  the  Stadt 
Huys,  when  a  new  difficulty  sprung  up  in  the 
shape  of  three  m^,  who  appeared  at  a  little 
distance  to  be  watching  his  movements. 

^'  Pish,"  impatiently  exclaimed  the  Admi- 
ral, dropping  to  the  ground  for  concealment, 
*'  these  sleepy  Mynheers  appear  to  be  all  abroad 
to-night,  instead  of  snoring  away  by  the  side 
of  their  ^  goede  vroeuws,'  and  dreaming  about 
long  pipes  and  Virginia  tobacco,  but  the  devils 
have  seen  me  and  are  coming  this  way,  so  I 
may  as  well  meet  them." 

The  three  persons  now  carefully  approached 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  59 

the  spot  where  mighty  Ephraim  was  standing 
until  so  near  that  he  easily  recognised  the  form 
of  Paul  Spleutcher.  "Hah!"  muttered  the 
Admiral,  fiercely,  ''the  hound  has  betrayed  me 
and  is  putting  them  on  the  scent,  but  he  should 
have  brought  more  than  two,  to  take  Ephraim 
Lowe."  By  this  time  the  whole  party  had  ap- 
proached so  near  as  to  be  perfectly  distinguish- 
able, when  instead  of  two  myrmidons  of  the 
law,  as  he  had  supposed,  the  old  man  saw  with 
joy,  La  Vincent  and  the  captive  sentry. 

*'  Hoghch !  yer  honour,"  said  Paul,  cutting 
a  very  unphilosophical  capriole  in  the  air,  *' I 
was  afraid  lest  them  divils  patrowls  had  nab- 
bed yees,  and  was  jist  recoiteringto  pursave,  so 
I  was."  ''  Ah,  Paul,"  replied  the  Admiral, ''  I 
have  been  doing  you  a  great  injustice,  for  I  fear- 
ed you  had  been  playing  traitor,  but  how  has 
this  happened  ?" 

While  they  again  proceeded,  but  in  the  di- 
rection of  dame  Bonny's,  honest  Paul,  related 
to  the  Admiral,  how  he  had  seen  the  patrol  re- 
turning towards  the  fort  and  fearing  lest  they 
should  suddenly  come  upon  the  fugitives,  he 
had  run  with  great  speed  by  a  bye-way  to 
warn  them  of  their  danger,  but  had  not  time  to 
go  under  the  bridge  and  admonish  him,  which 
explained  why,  when  Lowe  again  ascended  the 
bank, he  found  his  party  had  vanished ;  "but," 
concluded  Paul,  having  finished  his  relation, 
''as  to  being  a  traitur,  Paul  Spleutcher  nivur, 
was  iducated  to  it."  "No,  Paul,"  replied  his 
auditor, "  you  are  '  ashonest  as  the  day  is  long.'  '^ 

The  little  party  were  now  wending  their  way 


/ 

60  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

'ttlong  the  Here-Graft,  when  from  a  jutting  angle 
of  the  buildings,  where  she  had  been  deposited 
for  safety  by  Paul,  stepped  forth  Elvellynne 
De  Montford.     In  a  moment  more  she  was  in 

we  shall  not  say,  gentle  reader,  where  she 

was,  but  a  loud  smack,  ringing  fairly  along  the 
trottoir,  told  the  Admiral,  w^ho  was  leading,  that 
the  lovers  were  not  very  far  apart. 

Love  is  a  strange  thing,  a  very  strange 
thing,  gentle  reader,  and  very  like  unto  a  pump- 
kin, which  rolling  down  a  hill,  doth  not  know 
that  it  gathers  velocity  but  to  its  own  ruin,  and 
will  smash,  notwithstanding  Mr.  Webster's  au«- 
thority  to  the  contrary,  against  the  rock  at  the 
bottom.  It  was  so  in  the  present  instance  ; 
for  no  sooner  did  Elvellynne  make  her  appear- 
ance, than  ^'  Sleepy  Jim"  made  his  disappear- 
ance, not  having  one  to  guide  his  w^ay ;  for  La 
Vincent,  who  had  held  guard  over  him,  had 
eyes  but  for  one  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  Paul, 
the  captive  would  probably  have  escaped. 
However,  Paul  seized  him  in  the  very  act,  as 
he  had  really,  upon  deliberation,  concluded 
that  the  present  was  a  favourable  time  for  him 
to  make  an  honourable  retreat;  and  was  fairly 
pulling  out  his  pipe  preparatory  to  taking  that 
step.  A  few  steps  brought  them  to  Dame 
Bonny's,  where,  to  the  Admiral's  surprise,  no- 
thing was  to  be  seen  of  his  boat,  which  should 
have  been  at  the  brido^e  below. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE, 


61 


CHAPTER    IV. 

It  was  now  nearly  day-light  as  the  few  first 
glimmering  streaks  in  the  east  announced; 
and  the  Admiral,  with  a  hasty  step,  entered  the 
dame's  to  ascertain  if  possible  any  thing  about 
the  absent  boat.  A  few  sturdy  strokes  soorL 
brought  the  dame  bustling  into  the  little  tap; 
room,  light  in  hand,  '  benightgowned,'  and 
*  benightcapped.'  '*  Hist,  hist,  for  the  love  of 
God,  hist  admiral,  an  ye  w^ould  not  have  the 
devils  upon  ye,''  said  she,  raising  her  finger. 
"  Why,  what  is  the  matter  dame  V^  rejoined  hei 
"  Matter  enough,  an  you  be  not  sparing  of  such 
thumps  as  you,  just  gave,  you  will  have  dd 
Hoofd  Schout  with  his  whole  gang,  who  ar6i 
waiting  without,  upon  ye."  This  was  startling 
intelligence,  "  But  the  boat,  dame?"  composedly 
asked  Lowe,  *'  the  boat !  and  Jacques,  do  ydtt 
know  anything  of  them ;  they  have  failed  ud 
now,  when  we  should  be  beyond  the  south  end 
of  Long  Island."  **  They've  got  your  boat,  ad^ 
miral,  and  poor  Jacques,  too,  who  fought  like, 
a  tiger  with  all  the  crew,"  answered  the  dame. 
*^  Taken  my  boat,"  repeated  the  Admiral ;  **  who 
has  taken  my  boat  ?" 

''Why,  de  Hoofd  Schout  andhis^ang,  and 
they  are  now  waiting  outside,  watching  fot 
you."  Here  the  dame  briefly  related  to  the? 
Admiral,  that  shortly  after  he  left  w^th 
Elvellynne  and  Paul,  and  before  Jacques  had 
6 


62  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

started,  while  about  getting  the  men  in  the  boat, 
the  Hoofd  Schout,  with  a  dozen  soldiers,  had 
made  his  appearance,  and  seized  upon  the 
boat,  together  with  the  men,  as  they  were 
about  embarking.  "  Ooch,  oogh!  'twas  thim 
same  divils  of  spalpanes  that  we  see  pass  as 
we  were  lyin  in  the  crook  of  the  fence,"  inter- 
rupted Paul,  as  he  remembered  the  Hoofd 
Schout  and  his  gang  passing  them  shortly  after 
they  had  left  the  dame's.  Dame  Bonny  pro- 
ceeded with  her  narration,  and  the  gray  streaks 
in  the  east  already  began  to  illumine  the  little 
apartment  through  the  chinks  of  the  wide  win- 
dow before  she  had  concluded,  which  hardly  had 
she  done,  when  a  great  noise  was  made  about 
the  door,  as  if  people  were  endeavouring  to 
force  it.  **  It  is  the  Hoofd  Schout/'  muttered  the 
dame,  *'  with  a  half  score  of  soldiers  at  his 
back."  The  Admiral  walked  softly  towards  the 
door,  and  having  seen  that  it  was  well  barred, 
requested  the  dame  to  stand  by  it  for  a  few 
moments,  and  if  perchance  the  bar  should  be 
raised,  to  replace  it,  while  he,  with  Paul,  La 
Vincent,  and  Elvellynne  retired  into  the  little 
room  where  we  first  saw  him,  and  which  ad- 
joined the  one  which  was  now  besieged,  but 
directly  on  the  other  side  of  the  house.  Here, 
without  any  words,  Lowe  stripped  from  La 
Vincent  his  uniform  and  silk  stockings,  and 
taking  from  the  wall  (which  w^as  hung  round 
with  old  garments,  probably  those  of  the 
dame's  quondam,  ''  good  man ;")  an  old  coat, 
leather  breeches,  pair  of  blue  worsted  stock- 
ings, broad  brimmed  Dutch  hat,  and  clogs,  he 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  63 

bade  him  put  them  on  with  all  haste,  which 
being  done,  he  gave  a  few  brief  directions  to 
Paul,  and  desired  La  Vincent  to  follow  him 
out  of  the  house  ;  and  when  once  out,  to  run 
for  the  market  place,  and  mix  with  the  crowd, 
which  would  be  pretty  dense  at  this  hour  of 
the  morning,  with  people  of  all  descriptions 
from  the  country  and  farms  outside,  bringing 
in  their  poultry  and  produce  of  all  sorts.  At 
the  same  time  he  warned  La  Vincent,  if  separ- 
ated from  Paul,  to  return  to  the  dame's  by 
night  fall  if  he  could  with  safety.  Taking  his 
way  through  the  back  part  of  the  house,  fol- 
lowed by  La  Vincent,  who  was  now  not  only 
willing  but  anxious  to  escape,  Paul  descend- 
ed to  the  cellar  below,  and  pulling  away  two 
or  three  old  boards,  disclosed  a  small  window 
looking  out  on  the  Here-Graft.'  Through  this 
he  crept,  followed  by  his  comrade,  and  without 
discovery  emerged  into  the  public  street.  A 
few  minutes  brought  them  to  the  market-place, 
where,  without  discovery,  they  mingled  with 
the  crowd.  Meanwhile  the  Admiral  was  not 
idle.  The  dame  had  kept  the  door  good  till 
the  fugitives  were  clear,  when  she  resigned  her 
post  to  the  Admiral,  which  scarcely  had  she 
done,  than  a  sudden  pressure  forced  the  frail 
barricade,  and  disclosed  to  the  pirate  the 
whole  gang  of  besiegers.  With  a  waive  of 
his  hand  he  kept  them  back  for  a  moment, 
when  the  cry  of,  **  There  he  is,  there  he  is, 
there's  the  English  spy,  seize  him,  seize  him," 
was  raised,  and  a^'rush  was  made  forwards. 
The  old  man  stepped  out  on  the  little  stoop, 


64  THE   BBIGANTINfi     OR,! 

and  finding  that  force  was  the  only  argnmeni 
which  would  be  Iktened  to,  he  very  deliber- 
ately took  each  one  as  he  advanced  by  the 
collar  of  the  coat,  and  Ufted  him  over  the  low 
railinor  which  «[uarded  either  side.  At  this 
juncture  a  great  clattering  of  feet  and  ringing 
of  arms  attracted  the  attention  of  both  be- 
siegers and  besieged,  when  round  the  corner 
of  the  Here-Gruft  came  bounding  a  man,  his 
clothes  tattered  and  rent,  his  mouth  foaming^ 
and  tongue  lolling  with  fatigue,  and  his  person 
here  and  there  bespattered  with  blood,  and 
bearing  the  marks  of  a  severe  fray.  At  his 
heels  followed  two  of  the  soldiery  with  lower- 
ed muskets  and  fixed  bayonets.  Panting  and 
almost  exhausted  with  fatigue^  the  pursued 
man  made  straight  for  Dame  Benny's  little 
stoop,  around  which  was  collected  the  band 
we  have  already  seen^  and  with  a  fierce 
bound  passed  through  the  astonished  assail- 
ants, and  stood  by  the  admiral.  It  was 
Jacques.  He  slipped  within  the  apartment; 
and  before  the  crowd  had  recovered  their 
astonishment,  and  while  they  were  listening 
to  the  recital  of  the  two  soldiers^  the  Admiral 
also  stepped  within  and  quietly  closed  the 
door.  Taking  a  glass  of  good  strong  Hol- 
lands, which  was  administered  by  the  dame's 
own  hand,  and  having  recovered  breath, 
Jacques  briefly  related  to  the  Admiral,  who 
was  standing  with  his  back  braced  against  the 
door  by  way  of  a  bar,  his  capture  by  the 
Hoofd  Schout,  and  subseqtfent  escape. 

It  appeared  from  his  disclosure,  that  after 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  66 

their  capture,  he,  with  the  Hiree  other  seamen, 
were  marched  to  the  barracks  under  a  guard, 
--while  the  boat  was  taken  to  the  fort  and  secur- 
ed. When  arrived  at  the  barracks,  they  were 
placed  under  a  guard  of  only  two  soldiers,  (the 
same  we  have  just  seen,)  till  the  Governor 
should  rise  in  the  morning,  when  they  were  to 
be  conducted  before  him  as  suspected  spies. 
''Seeing  as  how,"  continued  Jacques,  *'the 
sojers  was  but  two,  and  we  four,  we  made  a 
rush  at  them,  tumbled  them  over,  and  then 
made  sail.  Long  Bill,  Tom,  and  Mike  jumped 
into  a  country  craft  that  lay  alongside,  and 
shoving  off,  got  up  the  sail,  and  stood  across 
the  harbour ;  while  the  damned  sojers  headed 
me  up  so  close,  that  I  could  not  weather  um, 
and  so  bore  away  for  the  dame's." 

^'  Well,  Jacques,  you  have  done  bravely ; 
but  where,  do  you  think.  Bill  and  the  rest  are  ?" 

"Aboard  the  Merry  Christmas,  sir,  by  this 
time,  for  they  had  a  fine  slant  of  wind,"  replied 
Jacques. 

At  this  time,  a  cry  was  heard  from  the  ad- 
joining room,  where  Elvellynne  had  been  left 
to  stand  guard  over  Sleepy  Jim.  The  Admi- 
ral jumped  from  his  station,  which  was  imme- 
diately occupied  by  Jacques,  and  rushed  to  the 
room.  The  sentry  was  standing  in  the  centre 
of  the  floor,  with  the  pistol,  which  in  an  un- 
guarded moment  he  had  wrested  from  Elvel- 
lynne, and  which  he  presented  at  the  Admiral 
as  he  entered.  "  Stand,  sir  spy,"  said  he,  "  or 
I  fire."  The  old  mail  resolutely  advanced,  and 
as  "  Sleepy  Jim "  levelled  the  '  weapon  And 
6^ 


6§  THE  brigantine:  or, 

fired,  the  slight  hainj  of  Elvellynne  De  Mont- 
ford,  knocked  up  the  aim,  and  the  ball  passed 
harmlessly  over  his  head,  lodging  in  the  ceiling^ 
beyond.  ^ 

''Well  done,   my  brave   girl,  well  donet^ 
shouted  the  Admiral, ''  you  are  worthy  of  your 
lineage." 

Sleepy  Jim  was  now  effectually  secured 
with  cords,  and  the  Admiral  hurried  to  the 
assistance  of  Jacques  who  swore  he  could  not 
much  longer  hold  out  against  the  damned 
sojers. 

In  this  emergency  the  dame  cried  out,  '^  The 
rum  hole  \  Admiral,  to  the  rum  hole  !  while  I 
keep  the  door." 

''  Ha !  you  have  it,  dame,"  said  the  old  man, 
who  was  then  turning  over  his  resources  for 
some  loop-hole  of  escape, — '^  you  have  it !  " 
and  calling  Elvellynne,  with  Jacques,  he  dis- 
9,ppeared  by  the  same  passage  which  Paul  had 
taken  before. 

Meanwhile  the  dame  commenced  a  parley 
with  those  outside.  ''  Good  people,"  said  she ; 
"  >vhy  do  you  molest  a  lone  woman  at  this 
hour  of  the  day."  "We  want  the  spy,  the 
Englishman,"  roared  the  crowd.  "  There  is 
1X0  spy  here.  Mynheer  Hoofd  Schout,"  returned 
^he,  *'  but  if  you  mean  those  who  were  but 
just  here  they  are  passed  out  by  a  window  in- 
to the  Here  Graft." 

This  the  dame  knew  to  be  a  thuiriper,  but 
^be  thought  that  the  emergency  warranted  this 
little  deviation  from  truthf  and  would  give  the 
Admiral  full  time  to  get  beyond  pursuit.    With 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  67 

a  whoop  and  halloo,  the  assailants  left  the  door, 
and  ran  around  the  house  ;  but  here  there  were 
no  spies  to  be  seen. 

Enraged  they  returned  and  demanded  of  the 
dame  why  she  had  misled  them,  and  com- 
manded her  to  unbar  the  door. 

''  I  tell  you,  they  are  gone  by  the  window," 
reiterated  the  dame  ;  '^  but  if  you  will  not  give 
me  credit,  let  me  but  have  time  to  don  such 
raiment  as  it  is  beseeming  a  lone  woman  like 
me  should  wear,  and  not  appear  in  this  undress, 
which  your  violence  caused  me  to  come  forth 
from  my  bed  in." 

The  mob  assented,  and  the  dame,  hastily 
throwing  a  loose  gown  over  her  shoulders, 
again  returned  and  unbarred  the  door. 

The  soldiers  rushed  in,  and  fell  to  ransack- 
ing the  house,  in  which  search  they  found  their 
captive  comrade  lying  bound  in  the  little  room. 

But  to  return  to  the  Admiral.  Acting  upon 
the  dame's  suggestion,  he  led  Elvellynne  and 
Jacques  through  the  inner  apartments  of  the 
house,  and  descended  a  stairway  to  the  cellar 
below.  The  rum  hole  which  the  dame  had 
mentioned  was  a  secret  passage,  or  small 
vault,  constructed  in  by-gone  years,  and  used 
by  the  smugglers  to  conceal  their  goods,  arms, 
and  naval  stores.  The  entrance  to  it  was  by 
means  of  a. large  flat  stone,  so  set  in  the  stone 
wall  of  the  cellar,  as  to  appear  to  be  a  "  part 
and  parcel "  of  it.  This  stone  turned  upon  a 
large  pivot,  and  could  only  be  opened  by  a 
spring,  which  was  directly  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  cellar.     It  was  many  years  since  the 


68  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

Admiral  had  visited  this  recess,  and  he  had 
forgotten  the  exact  spot  where  the  spring 
which  could  give  him  entrance  was  to  be  found. 
Searching  round  the  half-hghted  cellar,  he  tried 
twenty  different  spots,  but  without  success ; 
and  when  the  soldiery  had  entered  the  house, 
he  had  not  yet  found  it.  The  noise  of  feet  was 
becoming  more  and  more  distinct,  and  the  Ad- 
miral, seizing  a  heavy  stick,  was  preparing  to 
dispute  the  stair-way,  if  any  one  should  try  it, 
when  Jacques,  more  fortunate  than  his  com- 
mander, in  trying  various  places,  at  length  hit 
upon  the  right  one,  and  the  heavy  stone  door 
flew  open  with  a  loud  crack. 

Entering  the  passage,  they  closed  after  them 
the  door,  and  a  hundred  yards  brought  them  to 
a  short  flight  of  stone  steps,  which  having  de- 
scended, the  Admiral  struck  a  light,  and  applied 
the  blaze  to  a  lamp  standing  on  the  table, 
which  lamp  had  probably  not  been  lit  before 
in  a  long  series  of  years,  but  which  was  a^vays 
left  where  he  had  found  it,  with  a  can  of  oil  by 
its  side,  ready  to  be  used  in  any  emergency 
like  the  present. 

The  feeble  light  disclosed  a  small  apartment 
shut  in  by  stone  walls  and  piled  up  on  either 
side  with  barrels,  pipes,  and  hogsheads.  In 
the  centre  stood  a  table  on  which  was  the  lamp, 
and  around  the  table  some  deal  benches.  From 
one  of  the  barrels  Jacques  drew  some  Hoi 
lands  and  bathed  the  wounds  which  he  had 
received  from  the  soldiers'  bayonets,  one  of 
which,  in  the  shoulder,  was  quite  severe,  and 
bled  profusely.     The  poor  fellow  was  in  great 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  69 

agony,  and  Elvellynne,  with  a  slight  knowledge 
of  those  matters,  though  little  used  to  the  sight 
of  blood,  undertook  to  relieve  him.  With  her 
scarf  she  staunched  the  wound,  and  soon  bound 
it  up  very  comfortably  in  a  handkerchief  The 
poor  fellow  was  quite  relieved,  and  thanked 
her  in  his  rude,  though  honest  speech,  with  a 
grateful  heart. 

The  soldiery,  after  searching  the  upper  part 
of  the  house,  descended  to  the  cellar  a  few 
seconds  after  the  fugitives  had  discovered  the 
obstinate  spring.  Finding  nothing  there  but 
casks  of  good  Hollands,  they  again  ascended 
to  the  tap-room,  where  was  Dame  Bonny 
turning  an  honest  penny  by  dealing  out  her 
good  things  to  no  less  a  personage  than  the 
burly  Hoofd  Schout  himself,  who  was  convers- 
ing with  ''Sleepy  Jim"  about  the  occurrences 
of  the  night.  *'  Sleepy  Jim"  related  the  adven- 
ture of  the  fort,  and  also  that  the  man  who  had 
rescued  the  prisoner  called  himself  Ephraim 
Lowe. 

'*  Pooh,  pooh!"  said  the  Hoofd  Schout,  with 
a  self-satisfied  air,  at  the  same  time  sipping  a 
little  of  the  dame's  renowned  Hollands,  and 
smacking  his  lips  with  much  gusto ;  ''  that  re- 
now^ned  pirate  and  freebooter  knows  too  much 
to  thrust  himself  in  such  a  trap :  but  '  by  the 
great  boot,'  dame,  this  Hollands  is  of  good 
stuff,  and  opportunely  come  by."  "  Ah,  yes, 
sir,"  languidly  replied  the  dame,  not  under- 
standing her  worthy  customer's  meaning,  ''  hon- 
estly enough  come  by ;  but  the  excises  are  so 
very  high  that  a  poor  lone  woman  likemy  self  can 


70  THE    BRIGANTINE  I  OR, 

hardly  make  an  honest  penny  now."  The  burly 
magistrate  shrugged  his  plump  shoulders,  and 
looked  at  the  dame  with  the  self-conceited  look 
of  small  people,  as  much  as  to  say,  *'  I  know, 
dame,  all  about  it,"  but  made  no  reply  other 
than  by  thrusting  forwards  his  glass  to  be  re- 
plenished, and  turning  to  *•  Sleepy  Jim,"  laugh- 
ed at  him  for  believing  that  Ephraim  Lowe, 
for  whose  head  a  reward  was  offered,  had  been 
so  madly  foolish  as  to  thrust  himself  within  the 
city  walls.  ^' No,  no,"  continued  this  *' little' 
great"  personage,  ^*  Ephraim  Lowe  knows  me, 
Bartus  Spooturken,  too  well  to  put  himself 
within  my  reach,  for  I  should  nab  him  within 
a  half  hour  of  his  landing." 

The  reader  will  very  readily  infer  from  the 
above,  that  Mynheer  Bartus  Spooturken  was 
an  exceedingly  brave  and  valiant  man  ;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  while  uttering  the  above  sonorous 
bravado,  this  worthy  limb  of  the  law  was  in- 
wardly turning  over  in  his  mind  how  he  might 
best  excuse  himself  from  the  duties  of  his  post  in 
case  that  notable  pirate  should  chance  to  come 
within  the  city,  and  where  he  might  best  bestow 
himself  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  that  terrible 
rover's  arm.  He  generally  (as  we  have  just  seen 
him)  found  some  excuse  for  dallying  behind  in 
any  dangerous  enterprize,  leaving  his  men  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  but  always  coming 
in  about  the  time  that  any  fracas  was  over  and 
the  prisoners  secured,  to  claim  the  lion's  share  of 
booty  and  renown.  But  the, valiant  magistrate 
(and  we  thank  him  much)  really  did  us  a  very 
*^  good  turn,"  insomuch  as  he  laughed  Sleepy 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  71 

Jim  out  of  his  belief  that  Ephraim  Lowe  was 
in  the  city,  for  had  it  been  breathed,  had  such 
a  suspicion  been  yelped  by  the  vilest  cur  in 
the  street,  there  would  have  been  such  a  rigor- 
ous search  set  afoot,  that  no  corner  or  cranny 
could  have  concealed  our  friend,  and  thus  the 
pirate  being  taken,  our  story  would  have  been 
abruptly  cut  off  here.  However,  Sleepy  Jim 
was  laughed  at  and  ridicaled  by  bis  superiors 
and  inferiors  for  saying  that  he  had  had  the 
honour  of  standing  face  to  face  with  the  rover, 
and  after  a  little  while  was  whipped  into  the 
belief  that  it  was  all  a  dream,  and  so  sat  him 
down,  drew  out  his  pipe,  and  resolved  to  for- 
get the  whole  matter.  After  a  fruitless  search 
the  soldiery  left  the  house,  and  once  more 
Dame  Bonny's  little  hostelry  was  tranquil. 

The  sun  was  well  up  in  the  eastern  board 
when  Peter  and  Augustus,  the  two  slaves  with 
whom  our  story  opened,  were  again  engaged 
before  Alderman  Von  Brooter's  house,  sweep- 
ing the  trottoir,  but  unmolested  by  the  boy  who 
had  before  caused  so  much  mischief.  The 
black  imp  was  seated  at  a  little  distance  in  the 
yard  on  a  plot  of  grass,  endeavouring  very  ear- 
nestly to  set  the  old  house-cat  and  Elvellynne's 
little  spaniel  by  the  ears,  one  of  which  he  held 
by  the  throat  in  either  hand.  "  Gosh,  uncle 
'Guss,"  said  black  Peter,  ''what  a  debblefuss; 
here  Missey  Evvy  gone,  Capp'n  Vinsunt  in 
prison  and  gwyin  to  be  hanged,  as  Massa  says, 
and  Massa  AUerman  hesef  mos  crazy ,-^Gosh, 
uncle  'Guss,  vat  you  tinks  bout  um?" 

It  was  indeed  as  black  Peter  had  stated,  for 


72  THE    BRIGANTlNE*r    OR, 

the  alderman  was  very  much  troubled  about 
the  disappearance  of  his  ward.  She  had  en- 
tered his  house  mysteriously,  and  had  as 
strangely  disappeared.  One  after  another  the 
household  domestics  w^ere  summoned  and  cate- 
chized, but  none,  not  even  Eugenie  Vallanse> 
her  tire-woman,  knew  any  thing  about  her  de- 
parture or  where  she  was  to  be  found.  At 
length,  w*earied  with  inquiries,  the  good  alder- 
man, taking  his  broad-brimmed  hat  and  cane, 
sallied  forth  in  the  direction  of  the  prison-house, 
thinking  it  possible  that  ta  her  grief  and  over- 
wrought state  of  mind,  Elvellynne  might  have 
sought  access  to  the  prisoner.  The  kind-heart- 
ed burgher's  countenance  lighted  up  with  a 
faint  smile  at  the  thought,  and  with  renewed 
energy  he  bent  his  way  to  the  Stadt  Huys. 

Here,  however,  he  gained  no  information, 
save  that  the  prisoner  had  escaped,  and  the 
devil  flown  away  with  '*  Sleepy  Jim."  Tri- 
fling, however,  as  this  might  seem,  the  honest 
man  at  once  drew  a  good  augury  from  it,  con- 
necting, somehow  or  other,  La  Vincent's 
escape  with  Elvellynne'?  disappearance,  and 
surmising  that  the  maiden  had  a  hand  in 
the  prisoner's  abduction. 

When  the  court  met  at  nine  o'clock,  to  pasa^ 
sentence  of  death  on  the  spy,  he  was  gone. 

The  day  passed  over  in  great  commotion,  as 
a  report  had  been  circulated  that  a  British 
fleet  was  outside,  waiting  below  for  a  fair  wind 
to  come  up  and  bombard  the  city.  This  report 
originated  in  the  exaggerated  story  of  some 
fishermen,  who  had  seen  two  vessels,  the  Grey- 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  73 

hound  and  Merry  Christmas  at  anchor,  but  not 
within  sight  of  eaqh  other.  At  last  the  day 
wore  away,  and  no  British  were  to  be  seen,  so 
the  quiet  burghers  very  pleasantly  laid  by  the 
old  muskets  which  they  had  shouldered  all 
day,  strutting  up  and  down,  like  so  many  pen- 
gums,  and  betook  themselves  to  the  never- 
failing  pipes,  sitting  on  their  pleasant  little 
stoopes,  and  conversing  across  the  way ;  one 
recounting  to  his  neighbour  how  many  of  the 
British  he  woukbhave  killed,  if  they  had  come ! 
while  his  auditor  listened,  in  astonishment,  at 
the  recital  of  his  neighbour's  valour.  At  length 
the  day  declined,  and  once  more  night  assumed 
her  sway. 

Dame  Bonny's  little  tap-room  was  crowded 
with  its  usual  compliment  of  idlers,  taking 
their  quantum  sufficit  of  Schnaps,  and  discuss- 
ing the  stirring  topics  of  the  day.  As  the 
evening  wore  away,  one  by  one,  these  dropped 
off,  until,  at  the  ringing  of  the  great  bell  at  the 
fort,  those  who  remained  rose,  en  masse,  and 
turned  them  towards  home.  It  was  then  con- 
sidered a  dissipated  life  to  be  out  of  bed  beyond 
nine  of  the  clock.  At  a  later  hour,  perhaps 
midnight,  or  a  little  after,  two  figures  were 
sitting  in  the  little  tap-room  which  the  idlers  had 
vacated,  and  appeared  much  interested  in  a  con- 
versation which  was  carried  on  solely  between 
themselves,  and  in  a  low  under-tone  of  voice. 
One  of  these  was  an  elderly  man,  dressed  in  a 
^iform,  and  wearing  side-arms ;  the  other 
wore  the  garb  of  a  common  sailor,  which,  in 
some  places,  was  much  soiled  and  stained  with 
7 


74  THE  brigantine:  or, 

blood.  A  slight  tapping  at  the  door  disturbed 
the  colloquy,  and  both  jumped  from  their  seats. 
The  elderly  man  laid  his  hand  on  the  sword  by 
his  side,  while  he  of  the  soiled  garment  crept 
cautiously  forward,  to  reconnoitre  through  a 
small  chink  in  the  shutter.  Satisfied  with  his 
inspection,  the  sailor  opened  the  door,  and  the 
new  comer  appeared : — it  was  Paulus  Spleut- 
cher,  but  he  was  alone.  The  elderly  man, 
whom  the  reader  will  readily  recognize  as  Ad- 
miral Lowe,  at  once  addressed  him. 

*^  Well,  Paul,  where  is  the  young  man?'' 

'^  Ooris,  yer  honour,"  replied  that  worthy, 
^'an'  it's  not  Paulus  Spleutcher  can  tell  yee's. 
The  gallant  left  me  about  the  night-falling,  and 
the  divil  a  bit  of  him  has  Paul  sane  since  yer 
honour."  The  Admiral's  countenance  fell,  and 
he  continued  interrogating  Paul. 

'^  But  what  has  detained  you  so  long,  Paul? 
Why  did  you  not  return  before  and  tell  me  of 
this,  when  it  might  have  been  possible  to  find 
the  youth  ?  " 

"Ah!"  replied  Paul,  "yees  might  have 
sarched  and  sarched  agin,  but  if  ye  did  not 
know  the  city  betthur  than  Paul,  ye  wud 
nivur  have  found  the  lad — for  aint  it  Paul 
Spleutcher  his  own  self,  has  been  huntin  since 
the  sun-fall,  and  yet  has  not  laid  eyes  upon  the 
same." 

The  Admiral  could  not  divine  what  had  be- 
come of  La  Vincent,  and  after  thinking  over  all 
the  misfortunes  which  might  have  befallef|i 
him,  at  length  sat  him  down,  determined  to 
abide  by  the  issue,  and  wait  till  the  approach  of 
morning,  at  which  time,  if  La  Vincent  did  not 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  75 

return^  he  would  leave  the  city  with  Elvellynne, 
till  the  present  commotion  was  over,  and  then 
return  with  the  possibility  of  effecting  some- 
thing in  the  young  officer's  behalf,  which  he 
saw  would,  at  present,  be  impracticable,  as 
Paul  had  already  disclosed  the  unwelcome  in- 
telligence, that  on  account  of  the  rumors 
abroad,  the  guard  had  been  increased  and  sen- 
tries doubled,  all  over  the  city.  The  old  man 
at  first  feared  lest  La  Vincent  might  have  fallen 
in  with  some  one  of  these  strolling  parties  and 
been  re-captured,  but  then,  he  remembered  the 
disguise  with  which  he  himself  had  endued  him, 
and  smiled  at  the  thought  of  any  one's  recog- 
nizing in  the  simple-looking  Dutch  lad,  the  per- 
son of  the  dashing  young  officer.  Paul  related 
the  incidents  of  the  day,  and  was,  in  turn,  gra- 
tified with  the  recital  of  all  that  had  occurred 
at  the  dame's,  since  his  departure  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  three  now  sat  down,  and  passed  two 
hours  in  planning,  discussing,  suggesting,  re- 
flecting, and  all  those  thousand  minutiae,  which 
present  themselves  to  a  mind  labouring  under 
the  knowledge  of  immediate  danger,  and  en- 
deavouring to  find  some  clue  by  which  it  may 
be  either  entirely  avoided,  or  somewhat  di- 
minished. 

The  Admiral  looked  at  his  repeater,  and 
saw  that  it  was  after  three,  and  now  really 
began  to  entertain  some  doubts  concerning  the 
infallibility  of  the  disguise  in  which  he  had  a 
little  before  placed  so  much  reliance. 

Another  half-hour  was  passed  in  doubt,  fear, 
and  anxiety,  and  still  La  Vincent  did  not  coma. 


76  THE    BRIGANTINE  :  OR 


Determined  to  stand  by  the  young  English- 
man, in  whom  he  had  taken  (to  Paul,)  quite  an 
unaccountable  interest,  so  long  as  was  compati- 
ble with  his  own  safety,  the  Admiral  yet  de- 
layed, and  sent  Paul  out  to  find  some  kind  of 
a  boat  in  which  they  might  all  embark  and  • 
reach  the  Merry  Christmas.  The  Admiral 
impatiently  paced  up  and  down  the  room,  du- 
ring Paul's  absence,  every  now  and  then  stop- 
ping to  listen  to  the  least  sound,  with  the  vague 
hope  that  the  long-expected  comer  was  at 
hand — but,  disappointed,  he  would  again  re- 
sume his  exercise,  with  some  exclamation, 
declaratory  of  his  impatience. 

It  was  at  one  of  these  cessations,  when  the 
Admiral  was  listening,  and  chiding  Jacques  for 
interrupting  the  silence  with  a  slight  groan,  eli- 
cited from  the  brave  fellow  by  the  excruciating 
torture  of  his  wound,  that  a  step  was  heard,  and 
then  a  tap-tapping  upon. the  door.  Lowe  jumped 
to  the  entrance  and  threw  it  open,  expecting  to 
meet  La  Vincent,  but  it  was  only  Paul,  return- 
ed with  an  old  ricketty  affair  of  a  boat,  which 
he  had  picked  up  somewhere  on  the  canal,  and 
brought  along  to  the  dame's. 

While  standing  at  the  door  the  Admiral 
heard  a  slight  plunge  in  the  canal,  and  saw  a 
dark  object  moving  along  on  the  surface  of  the 
water.  A  moment  after,  the  tall  figure  of  a 
man  rose  from  the  water,  and  La  Vincent  stood 
before,  him.  His  clothes  were  sadly  rent  and 
nearly  torn  from  his  back  and  his  whole  appear- 
ance was  that  of  a  man  who  had  received  se- 
vere handling.     It  appeared  that  the   young 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  77 

Englishman  had  been  mistaken  by  some  of 
the  good  town's  people  for  one  of  their  own 
countryman,  against  whom  they  had  a  private 
grudge,  and  had  received  that  treatment  which 
was  intended  for  another.  The  Admiral  could 
not  avoid  smiling  at  his  young  friend's  ludicrous 
appearance,  though  he  condoled  with  him  and 
was  heartily  glad  to  receive  him  again  safely, 
in  whatever  state  of  nudity  he  might  appear. 
A  few  moments  sufficed  to  apparel  him  in  his 
own  clothing  which  had  been  left  in  the  morn- 
ing, for  those  which  had  caused  the  sad  mis- 
take, and  Elvellynne  who  had  been  taking  re- 
pose in  the  dame's  own  room,  being  awakened, 
the  little  party  sallied  out  to  the  boat.  It  was 
half  full  of  water  and  some  little  time  was  ne- 
nessarily  consumed  in  getting  a  vessel  and 
bailing  it  out.  At  length  they  embarked  and 
with  a  silent  oar,  the  Admiral  pulled  the  un- 
wieldy craft  down  the  canal,  while  Paul  with 
an  old  board  steered.  Jacques,  who  was  per- 
fectly crippled  by  the  wound  in  his  shoulder, 
was  stationed  in  the  bow  to  keep  a  look  out, 
while  Elvellynne  and  her  lover  were  seated  on 
the  after-thwart.  So  much  time  had  been  con- 
sumed by  the  various  crosses,  vexations,  and 
delays,  that  it  was  now  nearly  daylight,  still 
the  Admiral  encouraged  the  hope  that  they 
might  be  able  to  pass  the  sentry,  who  was 
stationed  near  the  bridge  (at  the  foot  of  the 
Here-Graft)  under  which  the  boat  must  pass, 
before  they  reached  the  open  bay.  The  bridge 
was  the  same  under  which  his  own  boat  was 
to  have  been,  the  night  previous.  Silently  they 
7^ 


78 


THE    BRIGANTINE  I   OR, 


glided  along,  no  one  in  the  boat  speaking,  till 
within  sight  of  the  above-mentioned  bridge. 
The  Admiral  turned  round  and  his  breath  was 
drawn  quickly,  as  he  descried  the  tall  figure  of 
the  sentry  leaning  against  a  post  on  the  dock 
and  his  musket  gleaming  in  the  last  feeble 
glimmerings  of  the  faint  moon  which  was  now 
giving  way  to  the  broader  glare  of  day,  alrea- 
dy breaking.  They  reached  the  bridge,  pass- 
ed under  it,  out  at  the  other  side,  and  were  al- 
ready abreast  of  the  soldier.    The  hearts  of  oar 

.  little  party  beat  quickly  at  this  crisis,  and  the 
old  man  would  have  given  ten  years  of  his  life 
(already  waning)  for  his  own  swift  boat  with 
Jacques  and  her  crew  at  the  oars.  They 
glided  on,  and  akeady  entertained  the  hope 
that  they  had  passed  unperceived  and  were  in 
safety,  when  the  soldier  on  the  dock  hailed, 
**  Who  goes  there  !"  There  was  no  reply,  and 
again  he  hailed.  ^'  Come  back,  or  I  fire."  The 
Admiral  plied  his  strength  with  redoubled  vi- 
gour, (aided  by  Paulus  Spleutcher,  who  con- 
verted his  board  into  a  paddle,)  and  in  so  doing 
broke  one  of  the  oars  in  two.  The  soldier 
levelled  his  musket  and  fired,  at  the  same  time 
La  Vincent  threw  himself  before  Elvellynne, 
to  avert  the  danger  from  her  form.  The  shot 
passed  harmlessly  on,  burying  in  the  water 
beyond,  and  the  moment  of  suspense  was  over, 

,  The  remaining  oar  was  transferred  to  the  scull- 
lock,  and  the  Admiral  placing  a  foot  on  either 
gunwale,  applied. his  herculean  strength  to 
force  the  unwieldy  fabric  through  the  opposing 
element. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  79 

They  steered  for  the  Buttermilk  Channel, 
between  what  was  then  called  Nutting  Island, 
(now  Governor's  Island)  and  Long  Island. 
Already  had  they  proceeded  nearly  half  the 
way  across  the  harbour,  when  a  government 
boat,  filled  with  soldiers  left  the  Fort.  As  it 
gained  rapidly  upon  them,  the  old  man  discern- 
ed it  astern,  and  bent  to  his  task.  The  heavy 
Dutch-modelled  craft  rolled  and  swashed  about 
in  the  water,  but  urged  by  gigantic  force,  whiz- 
zed rapidly  with  a  sharp  cutting  noise  through 
the  foaming  liquid,  and  with  a  velocity  which 
seemed  sufficient  to  set  all  pursuit  at  defiance. 
But  in  spite  of  the  old  man's  exertions,  and 
Elvellynne's  prayers,  the  pursuing  boat  now 
began  to  gain  upon  them.  Still  the  pirate 
cherished  hopes,  for  he  was  perfectly  acquaint- 
ed with  the  currents,  and  saw  that  the  pursuers 
were  labouring,  through  ignorance,  with  a  swift 
tide,  which  had  already  carried  them  a  little  to 
leeward,  and  which  was  all  lost  way  to  them, 
while  he  was  floating  swiftly  along  with  a  race- 
horse current  in  his  favour.  But  the  odds  in 
numbers  and  better  complement  of  oars,  more 
than  made  u.p  the  difference,  while  the  rover 
saw  that  the  strenuous  endeavours  made  on 
the  part  of  the  pursuers,  must  ere  long  bring 
them  up  with  him.  Still,  with  heroic  energy 
the  old  man  swung  his  only  oar  with  master 
style,  while  the  fugitives,  even  Elvellynne  in- 
cluded, seconded  his  exertions  with  what  little 
assistance  they  could  yield  by  paddling  with 
their  hands.  Buttermilk  Channel  was  then 
never  traversed  by  boats,  being  nothing  more 


80  THE   BRIGANTINE  I   OR, 

than  a  salt-marsh,  very  much  resembling  those 
setting  into  the  land  about  Harlsem,  and  a  pole 
set  on  crotched  sticks,  offered  a  means  of  pas- 
sage from  one  island  to  the  other.  This  pole 
nearly  touched  the  water  at  flood-tide,  but  at 
ebb-tide  was  high  above  it  several  feet. 
Though  unknown  to  the  good  Dutchmen,  yet 
the  Admiral  was  aware  of  a  very  deep  channel 
in  the  centre,  sufficiently  deep  to  float  a  large 
vessel  of  moderately  light  draught.  For  this 
passage  he  steered,  and  as  it  was  rising  water, 
he  found  that  there  was  barely  room  under- 
neath the  pole  for  the  boat  to  pass,  while  all 
crouched  low  in  the  bottom.  The  pole,  howe- 
ver, proved  of  some  assistance,  for  Jaques  with 
his  sound  arm  laid  hold  of  it,  and  urged  the 
boat  under,  and  Paul  did  the  same.  So  hot 
was  the  pursuit,  and  so  anxious  the  pursued, 
that  even  such  little  trifles  appeared  of  mo- 
ment. 

Lowe  looked  back  with  the  hopes  that  the 
government  boat  would  be  so  high  out  of  wa- 
ter, as  to  be  unable  to  pass  beneath  the  cross- 
ing pole,  which  would  cause  those  in  her  some 
little  delay  while  they  raised  it.  But  no  ;  on 
she  came,  and  by  adopting  the  expedient  of 
crouching,  passed  under  "  all  clear,"  and  soon 
came  up  within  a  hundred  feet  of  the  chase. 
Elvellynne  turned  pale,  and  La  Vincent  clasp- 
ed her  hand  more  closely  in  his.  The  hundred 
feet  was  Diminished  to  fifty,  the  fifty  to  twenty- 
five,  and  in  another  moment  the  Schout  laid 
his  hand  on  the  flying  boat.  He  was  the  iden- 
tical personage  who  had  met  Lowe  on  the 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  .   81 

night  previous,  and  whom  the  rover  had  left 
on  the  dock  bound  hand  and  foot.  "  Ha !"  said 
the  old  man,  smiling  complacently,  ''  friend, 
thee  is  a  valiant  man,  but  shouldst  not  thrust 
thy  hand  into  another  man's  pudding,  lest  thee 
gettest  it  burnt;"  so  saying,  he  placed  the  blade 
of  his  oar  on  the  bow  of  the  barge,  and  with  a 
powerful  shove,  separated  the  two  boats,  send- 
ing his  own  whizzing  far  ahead,  at  the  same 
time  that  the  barge  having  lost  her  momentum, 
gathered  stern-way.  But  the  tenacious  Schout 
retaining  his  hold,  was  dragged  along  over- 
board, and  through  the  wake  of  the  Admiral's 
boat.  The  pirate  remitting  his  toil  for  a- mo- 
ment, stooped  and  raised  the  wet  magistrate 
into  his  boat,  while  the  soldiery  in  the  barge 
seeing  their  leader's  misfortune  and  strange 
capture,. set  up  aloud  shout  of  defiance,  and 
again  came  on,  but  ere  they  could  come  up, 
the  Admiral  rounded  a  high  point  of  the  island, 
and  the  boat  shooting  around  the  headland, 
glided  into  the  smooth  water  of  a  beautiful  bay, 
and  disclosed  to  the  young  Englishman's  ad- 
miring eyes,  the  form  of  a  small  elegantly- 
modelled  brigantine  gracefully  floating  at  her 
anchor  a  few  boats'  lengths  beyond.  She  was 
of  about  three  hundred  and  thirty  tons  burthen, 
sharp  bows,  lean  buttocks,  and  her  copper 
about  the  water  line,  shone  with  the  lustre  of 
a  burnished  mirror,  as  the  rays  of  the  rising 
sun  fell  upon  it. 

With  the  quick  discerning  eye  of  a  seaman, 
La  Vincent  scanned  the  little  vessel  from  truck 
to  water  line,  and  so  interested  did  he  become 


82  TlSE  BBIGANTINE  :    OR, 

in  gazing  at  the  beautiful  symmetry  of  her 
spars,  tapering  off  till  their  termination  could 
scarcely  be  determined,  the  lightness  of  her 
top  hamper,  and  delicate  tracery  of  her  cord- 
age, scarcely  defined  against  the  opposite  sky 
like  the  gossamer  web,  floating  in  the  moist 
sun-lit  air  of  a  spring  morning,  that  he  became 
entirely  forgetful  of  their  dangerous  situation, 
and  insensible  to  the  fact  that  the  boat  had  be- 
come motionless.  The  old  man  had  ceased 
his  wearisome  toil,  and  was  wiping  the  moist- 
ure from  his  brow,  when  the  pursuing  barge 
poked  her  bow  from  behind  the  point,  and  shot 
swiftly  a-head.  The  old  man  smiled  with  an 
appearance  of  great  satisfaction,  and  raising 
his  hands  to  his  mouth,  hailed  the  brig  in  a 
voice  of  thunder,  "  Eh,  ho  !  the  Merry  Christ- 
mas a-hoy !  man  the  launch  and  take  that 
boat."  With  the  despatch  of  a  well-disciplined 
ship,  the  loud  whistle  of  the  boatswain  piped 
away  the  ^'  launches,"  and  a  large  heavy  boat 
shot  out  from  the  stern  of  the  brig.  But  her 
looks  belied  her,  for  no  sooner  were  the  oars 
dropped,  than  she  cut  with  gathering  velocity 
through  the  foaming  waters  and  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  unlucky  barge.  Too  late  the  men 
in  the  government  boat  saw  the  trap  into  which 
they  had  been  enticed,  and  after  a  faint  attempt 
at  flight,  surrendered  to  the  swift  launch  which 
was  soon  upon  them.  The  6ld  man  chuckled 
at  the  turning  of  the  tables  so  successfully, 
and  tapping  the  crest-fallen  Schout  on  the 
shoulder,  at  the  same  time  pointing  to  the  bri- 
gantine,  jocosely  said,  friend  Schout,  that  vessel 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  83 

yonder  is  verily  the  one  appertaining  unto  me,  • 
how  does  thee  like  the  '  cut  of  her  jib  ? ' ''  "  Der 
tuyvel,"  muttered  the  affrighted  Schout,t^''  and 
you  are  then  really  that  terrible  Ephraim 
Lowe."  '^Verily,  friend  Schout,  I  am  that 
much  slandered  man,"  replied  Lowe,  "  and  ere 
the  setting  of  this  day's  sun  will  have  thee 
swinging  at  the  yard-arm  yonder,  unless  per- 
adventure,  thou  can'st  find  among  thy  friends 
ashore  the  means  to  compensate  a  peaceable 
man  like  myself  for  the  blow  which  thou  didst 
so  imadvisedly  deal  me  on  the  dock  yester- 
night, and  for  the  trouble  I  have  had  with 
thee,  inasmuch  as  with  thy  vile  crew  of  armed 
men,  thou  hast  but  just  put  me  to  great  bodily 
exertion.  How  does  thee  like  the  elevation  ?" 
pleasantly  continued  the  pirate,  at  the  same 
time  pointing  to  the  foreyard,  which  was  now 
directly  overhead,  ''  it  is  even  nearer  unto 
heaven  than  thou  mayest  ever  attain  again." 
The  affrighted  Schout  read  in  the  firing  of  the 
old  man's  flashing  eye,  the  look  of  determina- 
tion, and  saw  that  there  was  no  time  to  jest  or 
doubt,  for  his  captor's  blood  was  up  from  the 
exertion  he  had  made,  and  the  red  stream  was 
pouring  from  one  of  his  chafed  hands,  showing 
that  he  had  been  put  to  no  common  effort  of 
that  huge  strength  which  had  been  the  means 
of  their  deliverance  ;  in  fact,  the  oar  which  he 
had  used  was  worn  half  through,  and  several 
times  during  the  flight,  Paul  had  been  obliged 
to  dash  water  on  the  smoking  plank  through 
which  the  oar  passed,  to  prevent  the  boat's 
taking  fire. 


84  THE  brigantine:  or, 

'*  Come,  Sir  Schout,"  impatiently  asked  the 
old  man,  **  what  sayest  thou  ?  can  thee  find 
ransom,  or  will  thee  dangle  yonder  hke  a 
sheep-killing  dog."  The  poor  Schout  at  first 
could  not  answer;  but  when  on  the  deck  of 
the  vessel  a  halter  was  rove  through  a  block 
at  the  yard-arm ;  and  one  end  was  adjusted 
round  his  neck,  while  the  other  was  held  by 
fifty  stout  fellows  ready  to  walk  away  with  it, 
he  felt  his  dangerous  proximity  to  another 
world  ;  and  falling  on  his  knees  before  the 
Admiral,  while  the  big  tears  coursed  down  his 
ashy  cheeks,  begged  hard  for  that  life  which 
the  meanest  and  most  abject  of  civilized 
mortals  prizes  so  highly.  "  Not  if  the  lives  of 
all  the  States  General  were  centered  in  thy 
one  pitiful  neck,''  answered  the  old  man,  still 
adhering  to  the  quaker  phraseology,  "  would  I 
abate  one  tittle  unless  thou  canst  obtain  the 
sum  which  I  shall  name,  and  that  too  before 
night-fall."  "  Speak,  quickly,"  said  he;  ''two 
thousand  Ryders  paid  down  in  good  gold,  and 
thou  art  free."  The  Schout  was  silent  from 
fright,  and  the  old  man  construing  his  silence 
as  a  refusal  to  comply  with  his  demand,  waived 
his  hand  as  the  signal  to  run  him  up.  At  this 
moment  the  slight  hand  of  Elvellynne  De 
Montford  was  laid  on  the  pirate's  shoulder,  and 
with  a  tearful  eye,  though  awed  by  his  fierce 
demeanour,  the  beautiful  girl  pleaded  in  be- 
half of  the  unfortunate  prisoner,  and  not  with- 
out success.  The  stern  old  man's  counte- 
nance relaxed  as  he  gazed  on  the  lovely  form 
before  him  with  a  look  of  fondness ;  and  at  a 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  85 

waive  from  his  hand,  the  half  dead  Schout  was 
released  from  his  perilous  situation.  The  brig 
was  got  under  weigh,  and  stood  for  the  city ; 
and  in  another  half  hour  the  barge  was  dis- 
missed with  two  of  the  captured  soldiers  to 
demand  of  the  governor  the  mentioned  ran- 
som, "  And  tell  Governor  Colve,"  shouted  the 
admiral,  as  the  boat  had  proceeded  a  little  dis- 
tance, ^'  that  when  he  wants  an  interview  with 
Ephraim  Lowe,  he  must  send  sailors,  and  not 
soldiers  to  take  him."  The  brig  hove  to,  and 
in  that  situation  remained  to  await  the  return 
of  the  barge  with  the  ransom  money.  About 
noon  the  boat  was  again  seen  on  her  return 
passage  with  the  governor's  secretary  as  set- 
ter. The  bags  of  Ryders  were  hoisted 
aboard,  carefully  counted,  and  one  (beyond 
the  sum  required,)  returned  to  the  Schout, 
when  taking  Elvellynne's  hand,  the  affrighted 
Schout  having  attempted  to  return  to  her  his 
grateful  thanks,  descended  the  side  with  his 
whole  gang  ;  and  entering  the  barge,  shoved 
off,  no  doubt  glad  enough  to  be  fairly  clear  of 
his  peaceful  friend,  and  resolved  no  more  to 
molest  any  of  the  fraternity,  not  even  should 
George  Fox  himself  enter  the  settlement  to 
'^  prophesy." 

The  brig  filled  away  once  more,  and  stood 
for  La  Vincent's  ship,  which  was  at  a  little 
distance,  and  which  had  been  hid  from  the 
Merry  Christmas  only  by  the  jutting  point  of 
land.  A  boat  was  low^ered,  and  the  rover  him- 
self stepped  in  to  accompany  La  Vincent  to 
his  vessel ;  but  the  young  Englishman  de- 
8 


86 

murred,  seeing  that  Elvellynne  was  to  remain 
behind.  She,  however,  urged  him  to  go,  say- 
ing, *^  that  every  thing  was  for  the  best,"  and 
appeared  to  be  calm  and  perfectly  composed, 
while  his  bosom  was  tossed  with  many  con- 
flicting emotions  at  the  mysterious  separation, 
and  her  apparent  composure.  '*  Farewell," 
said  he,  in  a  sorrowful  tone,  as  he  stepped  over 
the^^side,  '^  and  if,  Elvellynne,  we  never  meet 
more,  remember  that  the  deed  is  yours  and  not 
mine,  for  this  heart  beats  truly  and  warmly 
for  you,  and  ever  will  till  cold  in  death.'' 
*'  Farewell  then,  Elvellynne,  farewell,  and 
a  bitter  parting  it  is  to  me  who  have  so  long 
cherished  the  fond  hopes  that  you  would  one 
day  be  mine ;  but,  but,  Elvellynne,  oh  Elvel- 
lynne," continued  he,  with  a  voice  almost 
drowned  with  the  conflicting  emotions  in  his 
breast,  "  as  you  value  your  peace  and  hopes 
of  heaven,  oh,  never,  never  become  this  dread- 
ful man's" he  would  have  said  wife^  but  the 

word  was  choked  in  utterance.  Affected 
even  to  the  suppression  of  speech,  Elvellynne 
would,  but  could  not  tell  him  why  she  remain- 
ed ;  and  when  sufficiently  recovered,  her  lover 
was  gone.  She  stood  on  the  deck  of  the  little 
vessel,  and  saw  through  the  watery  film  which 
yet  covered  her  beautiful  eyes,  the  dim  forms 
of  her  lover  and  the  Admiral  ascending  the 
sloop.  Even  the  rude  men  around  her,  so 
little  accustomed  to  such  sights,  were  strangely 
moved,  and  offered  the  maiden  their  rough 
commiserations,  though  little  understanding 
the   cause  of  her    grief     At  length  Paulus 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  87 

Spleutcher  took  her  passive  hand  with  an  air 
of  ahnost  reverence,  and  led  her  to  the 
cabin. 

Charles  La  Vincent,  though  he  could  not 
understand  the  mystery,  yet  formed  the  deter- 
mination to  rescue  Elvellynne  from  the  bold 
pirate's  hands,  and  no  sooner  had  the  Admiral 
left  the  Greyhound,  than  he  ordered  the  anchor 
up,  and  all  sail  made.  This  was  effected 
about  the  time  that  the  Admiral  had  once  more 
reached  his  little  vessel,  and  suspecting  the 
young  man's  intentions,  he  too  made  sail,  and 
steered  along  the  eastern  side  of  Long  Island 
in  a  northerly  direction. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  the  Greyhound 
was  making  chase,  for  every  sail  that  would 
draw  was  crowded  on  her,  till  she  became  a 
towering  mass  of  canvass.  Still  it  was  use- 
less, for  the  Merry  Christmas  ranged  rapidly 
a-head,  gradually  diminishing  and  diminishing 
in  size,  till  at  night-fall  her  last  sail  seemed 
to  sink  beneath  the  ocean. 

With  a  heavy  heart  La  Vincent  gave  up  the 
chase,  and  ordered  the  ship  "about"  to  her  old 
anchorage,  as  if  lingering  around  the  scene  of 
misfortune  would  bring  him  some  relief. 

Retiring  to  the  solitude  of  his  cabin,  the 
young  man  gave  himself  up  to  all  the  bitterness 
of  despair  and  disappointed  expectations.  He 
thought  of  the  stern  but  brave  old  man,  who 
had  gained  somehow  such  a  mysterious  influ- 
ence over  the  object  of  his  solicitude,  and  he 
thought  of  that  object,  of  Elvellynne  De  Mont- 
ford,  she  who  was  to  have  been  his  own, — ay, 


88  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

he  did,  in  Jthe  bitterness  and  maddening  goad- 
ings  of  his  feehngs,  picture  her  to  himself  as 
the  pirate's  bride.  But  then  he  reflected,  Why, 
why,  if  Elvellynne  is  his  object,  did  he  not 
leave  me  to  suffer  that  ignominious  death,  of 
which  he  felt  so  well  assured,  and  which  would 
at  once  have  rid  him  of  a  rival. 

Agitated  by  such  conflicting  thoughts,  and 
endeavouring  in  some  way  to  account  to  him- 
self for  the  proceedings  so  mysterious  through- 
out. La  Vincent  passed  the  night  in  sleepless- 
ness, pacing  up  and  down  the  cabin  deck.  At 
length  he  formed  the  sudden  and  dangerous  re- 
solution to  rescue  his  men,  who  were  yet  in  the 
prison-house  ;  and,  thought  he,  perhaps,  in  try- 
ing to  achieve  a  good,  if  not  a  great  action,  I 
may  fall,  and  my  name  be  retrieved  from  the 
obloquy  which  now  rests  upon  it,  in  having 
suffered  myself  to  be  betrayed,  and  exposed 
nay  brave-hearted  fellows  to  the  chances  of  an 
ignominious  death. 

Having  formed  this  resolution.  La  Vincent 
ascended  to  the  deck  with  a  lighter  step,  and 
gave  some  orders  preparatory  to  his  contemplat- 
ed enterprise.  From  a  country  boat  he  learn- 
ed that  the  English  prisoners  had  been  offered 
service  in  the  Dutch  navy  ;  but  that  having  re- 
fused, they  had  all  been  condemned  to  death, 
and  were  to  suffer  on  the  morrow  at  Bayard's 
Mount,  a  high  hill,  now  cut  down,  but  then 
standing  near  Centre  Market,  in  present  Grand- 
street. 

The  day  passed  as  all  days  of  expectation, 
or  "hope   deferred,"   with   a  sluggish   pace. 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  89 

Still  every  moment  was'  taken  advantage  of 
to  accelerate  and  better  the  preparations'neces- 
sary  for  the  hazardous  undertaking ;  and  Cap- 
tain La  Vincent,  summoning  together  his 
'*  ship's  company,"  addressed  them  in  a  few 
brief  but  pointed  words.  He  stated,  what  was 
to  them  before  unknown,  that  he  had  been 
made  a  prisoner  while  ashore,  and  had  beea 
rescued  by  a  mysterious  agency,  while  the 
boat's  crew  were  left  behind.  He  concluded 
by  stating  that  the  poor  fellows  were  to  be 
hanged  on  the  morrow,  and  requested  all  who 
would  volunteer  to  put  themselves  under  his 
guidance,  and  rescue  them,  to  step  to  the  star- 
board side.  Without  an  exception,  the  whole 
crew  of  one  hundred  and  forty  men  stepped 
forward  ;  but  as  he  could  not  take  them  all,  he 
selected  forty  from  the  number,  and  to  them 
disclosed  his  plan.  All  was  at  last  complete, 
and  only  waiting  the  tardy  coming  of  the  mor- 
row to  be  put  in  operation. 


a* 


90  THE   BRIGANTINEJ   OR, 


CHAPTER    V. 

The  story  rapidly  spread  about  the  town, 
and  was  bandied  from  mouth  to  mouth,  that 
the  notable  pirate,  Ephraim  Lowe,  had  been 
even  within  the  city  walls.  The  Schout  was 
looked  upon  as  a  very  celebrated  personage 
after  his  adventure,  and  thousands  were  the 
questions  put  to  him  by  the  curious  and  in- 
quiring citizens.  He  had  first  proceeded  to 
the  Governor's  on  coming  ashore  after  the 
ransom-money  was  paid,  to  whom  he  related 
his  whole  adventure,  together  with  his  rencon- 
tre with  the  pirate  on  the  night  of  the  prisoner's 
escape  from  the  prison. 

It  was  now  well  established  that  Ephraim 
Lowe  had  caused  all  the  mischief,  planned  and 
effected  the  Englishman's  escape,  carried  off 
the  Alderman's  ward,  killed  the  watchman, 
(for  the  poor  fellow  had  actually  died,)  and,  in 
short,  had  a  hand  in  all  the  mischief  which 
had  occurred  in  the  little  city  of  Nieu w  Orange 
since  it  was  first  founded  by  Schippers  Adrian 
Blok  and  Hendrick  Christiaanse,  a  very  strik- 
ing likeness  of  which  two  worthy  navigators 
every  family  in  the  settlement  boasted  the 
possession,  while  no  two  were  at  all  alike. 
Indeed  we  have  seen  thirty-two  of  these  said 
portraits,  and  were  not  aware  but  that  we  were 
gazing  upon  some  mighty  relics  of  Dutch  art, 
in  the  shape  of  a  portrait  gallery,  until  told  by 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  91 

the  owner,  a  patriotic  burgher,  who  still  ad- 
heres to  the  goodly  customs  of  his  forefathers, 
that  these  were  the  identical  portraits  of  those 
renowned  colonizers,  taken  in  olden  days  from 
life. 

One  of  these,  which  was  very  striking,  as 
illustrating  the  inquiring  spirit  of  the  great  man 
for  whom  it  was  intended,  we  remember  well, 
and  will  here  digress  a  little  to  delineate  with 
a  pen. 

The  good  Schipper  was  sitting  in  an  old  arm 
chair,  with  his  short,  stumpy,  fat-looking  legs 
stretched  out  to  their  full  length,  which  might 
have  been  two  feet  two  inches,  or  thereabouts ; 
while  his  feet  rested  on  a  deal  cricket.  His 
person  w^as  goodly,  quite  filling  the  chair  in 
which  he  sat,  which  was  none  of  the  smallest, 
(as  we  all  know  who  have  seen  those  sacred 
relics,)  and  from  either  pocket  peeped  forth  two 
or  three  pipe-stems  and  a  paper  of  tobacco. 
His  face  was  square,  and  encircled  by  a  huge 
pair  of  whiskers  ;  and  from  between  his  fat 
cheeks,  which  verily  seemed  to  shake  on  the 
canvass,  (it  might  have  been  the  wind  though, 
but  we  did  not  think  of  that,)  peeped  forth  two 
small  twinkling  eyes. 

This  picture  was  taken  shortly  before  the 
worthy  man's  death,  by  one  Vanbombeler ;  for 
had  he  lived  much  longer,  we  are  inclined  to 
think  that  the  said  merry-looking  cheeks  would 
have  so  far  encroached  upon  the  said  twinkling 
orbs,  as  to  exclude  from  them  entirely  the 
pleasant  light  of  heaven.  He  was  dressed  in 
the  old-fashioned  way  of  a  dozen  breeches,  five 


93  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

or  six  of  which  might  be  seen  through  the  httle 
envious  holes  which  busy  time  had  wrought; 
and  on  his  head  was  a  broad-brimmed  hat, 
from  the  upper  part  of  which,  by  frequent 
vigorous  puUings  on,  I  '  suppose,  when  the 
breeze  blew  pretty  fresh,  the  rim  was  nearly 
separated  behind. 

The  good  man,  as  indicative  of  his  enter- 
prising disposition,  was,  very  knowingly,  with 
head  thrown  one  side,  peering  into  the  bowl 
of  a  large  Dutch  pipe,  which  he  grasped  with 
either  hand,  trying  to  discern  why  tobacco  would 
burn  in  it,  while  a  heap  of  pebbles  which  ha 
had  thrust  into  another,  and  which,  by  the  bye, 
w^as  lying  on  a  table  by  his  side,  would  not. 
But  w^e  have  digressed  again  from  our  story  in 
a  sad  w^ay,  which  is  not  our  wont.  So  to  re- 
turn. 

It  may  be  easily  imagined  by  the  reader, 
from  the  foregoing  pages,  that  Alderman  Von. 
Brooter,  who  listened  to  all  the  gossip  of  the 
day,  was  by  no  means  the  least  interested  in 
the  OS.  TToxxoi  in  the  vague  reports  so  wildly  cir- 
culated. He  knew  that  his  ward  had  been 
carried  off,  but  he  had  heard  of  her  within  the 
half  hour  of  his  gossip,  as  married,  dead,, 
buried,  alive  again,  cut  up  and  boiled,  in  short 
in  all  the  ways  w^hich  fame  (that  liar  who 
'*  gathers  as  she  goes")  could  invent.  The 
good  burgher  at  once  traced  the  clue  to  the 
labyrinth  from  which  it  originated,  and  was  ere 
long  closely  closeted  with  the  Schout.  From  him 
he  learnt  the  facts  of  Elvellynne's  abduction,.and 
his  worst  fears  for  the  maiden's  welfare  were 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  93 

more  than  realized.  Still  the  fact  that  Charles 
La  Vincent  was  with  her  appeared  to  him  a 
consolation.  Little  did  the  good  man  dream 
that  while  he  was  applying  this  nnction  to  his 
soul,  he  was  already  separated  far  from  her. 
But  hope,  that  best  of  all  Heaven's  blessings, 
clings  to  a  straw,  and  the  affectionate  old  man 
returned  homeward  with  a  lightened  heart. 

It  was  within  half  an  hour  of  bell-ringing,  or 
half-past  eight,  as  the  alderman  trudged  stead- 
ily along  towards  his  mansion  in  Princess- 
street,  breasting  the  damp  night-air,  which 
chanced  to  blow  rather  chilly  from  the  south- 
east. At  this  time  there  was  collected  in 
Dame  Benny's  little  tap-room  an  assemblage 
of  persons  of  all  possible  trades  and  ages,  and 
as  variously  employed.  Some  were  sipping  of 
the  dame's  good  liquors,  others  regaling  them- 
selves^^with  the  honest  pipe,  while  quite  a  num- 
ber were  gathered  around  a  small  fire  kindled 
in  one  corner  of  the  room  to  dispel  the  chilly 
dampness  of  the  night,  which  was  quite  un- 
pleasant, though  no  rain  was  actually  falling. 
Among  this  latter  number  was  one  to  whom 
we  shall  give  a  little  attention. 

He  was  an  elderly  man,  dressed  in  a  cloth 
great-coat,  three-cornered  hat,  and  top-boots  of 
fine  calf-skin,  which  latter  article  of  apparel 
bespoke  him  as  belonging  to  the  wealthier 
classes,  for  none  but  those  wore  boots  of  so 
costly  material.  His  whole  air  was  that  of  a 
traveller,  for  under  his  arm  he  held  a  little 
bundle,  while  his  dexter  hand  grasped  a  very 
formidable-looking  article  in  the  shape  of  a 


94  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

walking-stick.  Indeed,  at  this  time,  he  was 
standing  very  near  the  little  smoking  fire,  as  if 
to  dry  the  moisture  which  his  garments  had 
imbibed  during  a  walk,  and  a  goodly-looking 
citizen  w^as  attentively,  listening  to  his  account 
of  the  doings  at  Fuyck,  alias  Albania,  alias 
Albany,  and  of  the  reports  which  had  reached 
that  place  concerning  one  Ephraim  Lowe's 
being  on  the  coast, 

^' Being  on  the  coast,  say  ye?"  interrupted 
he  v^^ho  had  been  listening ;  '^  why  Admiral 
Lowe  has  been  within  the  very  city,  aye,  and 
within  these  very  walls,  during  the  last  week." 

The  traveller  started  and  looked  around  in 
evident  alarm,  as  if  expecting  to  see  that  nota- 
ble personage ;  but  the  other  one,  seeing  his  mo- 
tion, proceeded  in  a  tone  of  assurance, — ^'  Ah, 
you  need  not  fear  him  now,  for  he  has  gone, 
and  between  you  and  I,"  continued  he  in  a  low 
voice,  putting  his  mouth  to  the  traveller's  ear, 
*'  I  had  a  hand  in  driving  him  off;  "  and  then, 
in  a  louder  voice,  and  looking  round  upon  the 
assembly  with  a  tone  of  assurance,  ''  yes,  I, 
Bartus  Spooturken,  Hoofd  Schout  of  the  city 
of  Nieuw  Orange,  did  press  that  bold  and  wick- 
ed man  hard  in  this  very  room  no  longer  than 
three  nights  ago ;  and  had  not  my  foot  slipped 
as  I  had  my  hand  on  his  collar,  I  should  cer- 
tainly have  taken  him.  But  he  knows  me  too 
well  ever  to  return  here  ;  so,  sir  traveller,  you 
need  not  fear.  Ah,"  continued  the  burly  magis- 
trate, ''  if  I  could  only  again  come  within  arm's 
length  of  this  Ephraim  Lowe,  he  should  not  a 
second  time  escape  me,  the  villain,"  so  saying, 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  95 

the  worthy  high  sheriff  walked  across  theroom 
with  the  air  of  a  general  who  has  just  gained 
a  battle,  and  called  for  a  glass  of  Hollands, 
while  the  traveller  followed  him  with  admiring 
eyes,  no  doubt  appreciating  him  as  a  man  of 
might  and  valour. 

At  this  moment  the  dame  entered,  and  cast- 
ing her  eye  around  the  apartment  to  see,  like 
a  thrifty  landlady,  who  was  likely  among  the 
assemblage  to  contribute  towards  her  till,  her 
gaze  rested  upon  the  figure  of  the  traveller, 
and  in  evident  astonishment.  The  valiant 
magistrate  saw  her  surprise,  and  thinking  that 
it  w^as  on  account  of  the  stranger,  busily  bustled 
up  and  obsequiously  informed  the  dame  in  a 
loud  tone  of  voice  that  the  traveller  v/as  a  friend 
of  his,  though  not  of  very  long  standing,  and 
requested  her  to  extend  all  civility  to  him.  The 
dame  promised  she  would,  and  turned  to  her 
duties.  Meanwhile  the  conversation  turned 
upon  the  morrow  and  the  events  which  it  was 
destined  to  fulfil.  The  traveller  all  the  while 
seemed  gathering  new^  intelligence,  and  his 
astonishment  evidently  increased. 

The  matter  of  the  spies  being  executed  was 
duly  discussed,  and  then  the  conversation  turn- 
ed upon  a  more  engrossing  topic,  to  understand 
which,  it  is  necessary  here  to  dilate  a  little 
upon  the  ancient  customs  of  the  towne.  From 
the  foundation  of  the  tow^ne,  it  had  always  been 
the  custom  among  the  trades-people  and  arti- 
sans, to  seize  the  opportunity  of  any  holiday 
or  festival-making,  for  the  purpose  of  exer- 
cising   themselves    in    games    and   feats    of 


96  THE  brigantine:  or, 

strength  and  agility.  In  process  of  time, 
bickerings  and  jealousies  sprung  up,  and  from 
acting  in  unison  they  split  into  two  parties,  and 
,  at  the  time  we  write  of  were  arrayed  against 
each  other  in  bitter  hostility. 

This  hostility  was  by  no  means  ameliorated 
from  the  fact  that  the  prize  had  always  been 
carried  oflf  by  one  party,  while  the  other  always 
suffered  the  disgrace,  and  laboured  under  the 
ignominy  of  defeat.  Of  course,  the  animosity 
waxed  warmer  and  warmer,  till,  at  the  present 
time,  it  was  fairly  at  its  height. 

The  party  which  had  always  been  victori- 
ous, was  called  the  Vly,  or  Fly-men,  from  the 
fact  that  their  residence  was  without  the  Wa- 
ter Poort,  (or  water-gate,)  at  what  was  then 
styled  the  Smit's  Vly.  The  champion  of  this 
party,  who  was  considered  the  strongest  man 
in  the  colony,  and  who  always  bore  off  the 
palm,  was  one  Watson  Sledger,  a  blacksmith, 
or,  as  he  was  commonly  styled,  '  Wat  of  the 
sledge.'  He  was  a  man  of  gigantic  stature  and 
well-proportioned,  and  from  the  constant  use 
of  the  heavy  hammers  which  he  plied  to  perfect 
the  niceties  of  his  art,  his  naturally  brawny 
arms  had  become  very  large  and  muscular, 
while  their  natural  covering  had  assumed 
nearly  the  colour  of  the  smoke  from  his  fur- 
nace. 

The  other  party,  which  always  had  suffered 

.the  disgrace  of  being  w^orsted,  was  called  the 

Wall  Party,  (or  Wall-men,)  from  their  living 

within  the  walls  of  the  city.     Their  champion 

was  the  miller,  he  of  the  dusty  coat,  and  was 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  97 

called  '  Rob  o'  the  mill.'  He  was  a  well-built, 
merry-faced  looking  Dutchman — that  is,  when 
you  could  get  a  glimpse  of  his  face,  which  was 
no  easy  matter  to  do  through  the  flour-dust, 
and  other  marks  of  his  trade  which  he  always 
carried  about  with  him.  He  was  a  man  of 
goodly  proportions  too,  but  not  so  large  as 
Wat  o'  the  sledge  ;  still,  in  the  feats  of  strength 
which  he  was  selected  to  try  with  Wat,  he 
very  nearly  equalled  him. 

Rob  had  been  the  champion  of  the  Wall- 
men  for  the  last  four  years,  but  unfortunately 
for  him  and  his  party,  had  always  been  un- 
well just  at  the  time  of  the  trial,  with  a  sore 
hand,  strained  shoulder,  or  some  other  ailment, 
which  in  a  manner  incapacitated  him,  while 
his  antagonist  had  always  been  in  the  full 
glow  of  vigorous  health. 

Having  made  this  little  explanation,  we  will 
take  up  our  regular  story  where  we  last  left  it. 

The  traveller,  who  seemed  to  have  a  taste 
for  all  kinds  of  information,  now  that  the  hang- 
ilig  gossip  had  dropped,  was  attentively  listen- 
ing to  the  new-broached  subject  with  equal 
appearances  of  satisfaction  and  curiosity,  some- 
times .gratifying  the  latter  by  putting  a  question 
or  two  to  some  one  or  other  of  the  speakers. 
The  conversation  went  on,  and  the  praise  was 
all  on  one  side — in  favour,  too,  of  the  Wall- 
men — as  only  members  interested  on  one  side 
were  present,  while  scandal  and  vituperation  of 
the  absent  party  was  profuse. 

*'  I  say,  Mynheer  Spooturken,"  said  one  who 
was  standing  near  the  fire  by  the  traveller,  and 
9 


98  THE  brigantine:  or, 

addressing  himself  to  theHoofd  Schout,  "you 
mean,  of  course,  to  be  present  at  the  match 
to-morrow,  which  is  to  be  played  between  Wat 
o'  the  sledge  and  Rob  o'  the  mill  ?  " 

''Ay,  that  do  I,"  replied  that  dignitary,  "for 
I  suppose  I  must  e'en  be  present  in  my  official 
capacity,"  said  he,  bristling  up  his  little  square 
figure  to  its  full  height,  "to  suppress  any  mobs 
or  violence  which  mio-ht  orow  out  of  this  said 
match  ;  but,  an  I  was  only  the  man  I  used  to 
be  a  score  of  years  back,  (here  the  worthy  man 
laid  down  his  glass  of  Hollands,)  I  would  not 
suffer  the  indignities  put  upon  us  by  these  Vly- 
men,  nor  should  they  carry  off  the  palm  of 
victory  longer,  for  by  the  good  Saint  Nicholas, 
this  bragging,  windy-mouthed  Wat  o'  the 
sledge  should  find  there  was  yet  one  man 
of  metal  to  be  dealt  with,  and  (in  a  lower  voice) 
one  that  he  would  not  wish  the  handling  of, 
more   than  once." 

"  Ay,  truly.  Mynheer  Spooturken,"  contin- 
ued he  who  had  first  addressed  him,  willing  to 
conciliate  a  man  of  so  great  importance  as  the 
Hoofd  Schout,  "  I  have  some  recollections  of 
hearing  of  sundry  of  your  feats,  which  showed 
you  to  be  even  a  man  of  bone  and  sinew,  but 
that  was  before  you  left  the  good  old  city  of 
Amsterdam,  and,  as  you  say,  a  score  of  years 
or  so  the  younger." 

Now  the  truth  was,  that  this  honest  toad- 
eater  had  never  heard  any.  such  thing,  and 
knew  that  the  valiant  Bartus  was  uttering  a 
lie  as  big  as  his  belly,  at  the  very  time,  but  he 
had  a  son,  who,  disdaining  the  phlegmatic  apa- 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  99 

thy  of  the  stock  from  which  he  had  sprang", 
was  the  pest  of  the  whole  city,  careering 
around  the  streets  at  night,  robbing  all  the 
good  burgher's  hen-roosts,  and  kissing  all  their 
pretty  daughters,  '  will  they  nil  they.'  It  was 
in  behalf  of  this  dutiful  youth  that  the  father 
had  thus  seconded  Bartus'  thumper,  hoping 
that,  in  requital,  the  good  magistrate  would 
sometime  look  with  lenient  eye  upon  the  night- 
ly scape-grace  deeds  of  his  promising  offspring. 
The  traveller  again  looked  upon  Mynheer  Bar- 
tus with  admiring  eyes,  as  that  functionary, 
taking  up  his  glass,  replied^ 

**  Ay,  I  dare  say  you  might  have  heard  some- 
thing of  those  little  feats,  friend  Brevoort,  for  I 
was  a  known  man  in  those  days,  but  that,  (said 
Jie,  stroking  down  his  portly  stomach,  which 
stood  out  before  him  like  a  beer-barrel,  entirely 
hiding  his  feet  from  his  own  observation,)  that 
was  befo];e  this  cursed  climate  got  into  my 
stomach,  and  took  from  the  goodly  proportions 
I  then  had." 

''Took  from!"  muttered  a  waggish-looking 
chap  at  the  traveller's  elbow,  ''  I  should  rather 
think  you  meant  added  to." 

In  this  way  the  conversatioa  proceeded  till 
every  thing  had  been  touched  upon,  and  the  tra- 
veller, who  as  it  has  been  said  before  was  by  no 
means  a  listless  listener,  deduced  the  following 
inferences  ;  that  there  was  to  be  on  the  morrow 
a  merry-making,  that  four  sailors  were  to  be 
hung  on  Bayard's  Mount,  that  there  was  to  be 
a  trial  of  skill  between  the  two  champions,  that 
the  valiant   and  worthy  Bartus  Spooturken, 


100 

Hoofd  Schout  of  the  town  of  Nieuw  Orange, 
was  to  honour  the  festivity  with  his  presence ; 
and  furthermore,  the  viator  inwardly  determin- 
en  that  he  also  would  be  present  and  witness  how 
the  champions  conducted  themselves,  ''  and 
mayhap,"  muttered  he  to  himself  as  he  laid 
down  the  little  bundle  which  he  had  till  now 
held  under  his  arm  and  grasped  his  stick  with 
a  firmer  gripe,  ^'  mayhap  I  may  chance  to  meet 
this  worthy  man,  this  Bartus  Spooturken,  alone 
and  without  witnesses.  I  would  such  were  my 
fortune,  for  I  have  even  a  little  account  with 
this  magistrate  which  must  be  balanced." 

The  reader  will  perhaps,  already  infer,  that 
the  traveller  was  an  honest  tradesman  come 
down  from  Albania,  to  add  something  to  his 
barren  shelves,  wherewith  to  delight  the  comely 
damsels  of  his  town,  or  may  make  some  other 
inference, (the  devil  only  knows  what,)  but  with 
all  due  deference,  we  advise  ye,  come  to  no 
sudden  conclusion,  lest  ye  mistake.  On  the 
morrow  shall  the  traveller  be  duly  introduced. 
As  the  bell  in  the  fort  swung  forth  its  noisy 
peals  the  company  disperse^  and  the  Hoofd 
Schout,  stepping  to  the  traveller,  tendered  him 
an  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  execution, 
and  festivities  on  the  coming  day,  and  turning 
to  the  dame,  requested  her  to  be  careful  of  the 
stranger,  then  putting  on  his  short  cloak,  pul- 
ling his  broad-brimmed  hat  over  his  eyes,  and 
lighting  his  pipe,  he  too  sallied  forth  with  a 
vigorous  step  to  eiiCounter  the  sour  blast  of 
the  night.  A  few  moments  after,  the  magis- 
trate (who  was  the  last  of  the  company  to  tar- 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  101 

ry)  had  departed,  Paul  Spleutcher  entered  from 
the  street  leading  along  with  him  a  female 
wrapped  m  ^  hood.  As  she  stepped  within 
the  apartment,  she  gaily  flung  off  the  cumber- 
some mantle  which  had  served  the  double  pur- 
pose of  protection  from  the  night  air,  and  dis- 
covery ;  and  stepped  forth  from  the  folds  of 
the  garment  which  had  fallen  at  her  feet  as 
pretty  a  lassie,  Paul  thought,  as  he  had  seen 
in  many  a  long  day.  She  was  rather  tall, 
blond  complexion,  dark  hair,  and  dark  eyes, 
and  her  smile  seemed  the  personification  of 
good  nature  and  a  sweet  temper.  She  was  ac- 
costed by  the  dame,  at  once,  as  an  old  acquain- 
tance. *'  Ah,  Mistress  Eugenie,  I  thought  you 
would  soon  be  following  your  sweet  young 
mistress,  but  mind  and  keep  a  good  eye  on 
that  Paul,^'  said  the  old  dame,  jocosely,  ''for  he 
is  a  roguish  fellow." 

''  Monsieur  Paul,"  returned  the  damsel,  '*  est 
il  ?  Ah,  no,  I  tink  Monsieur  Paul  to  be  verita- 
blement  un  homme  d'honneur."  ''  By  my  soul. 
Miss  Eugany,  an  its  there  ye'r  right,  PauFs  jist 
the  by  for  yees."  ''  Oui,  oui,  yes,  yes,"  repli- 
ed Eugenie,  not  exactly  understanding  w^hat 
had  been  said,  but  with  true  French  tact  mak- 
ing some  reply,  "  c'est  vrai  je  puis  bien  vous 
assurer."  The  dame  smiled,  as  did  the  travel- 
ler, and  the  French  girl,  as  if  entirely  conscious 
of  the  ways  of  the  good  woman's  little  domi- 
cile, passed  through  the  tap-room  and  on  to  the 
apartment  beyond.  ''Well  Paul,"  said  the 
dame,  "you  have  succeeded  in  getting  the  girl, 
butdid'nt  she  demur  to  come  with  you  alone, 
9* 


102  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

and  at  this  hour  of  the  night  ?"  "  Och,  no, 
Misthress  Bonny,"  rephed  Paul,  "  Miss  Eugany 
and  Fs  had  many  a  bit  word  thegither,  and 
didn't  she  say  herself,  that  Paul  was  the  by 
(boy)  for  her."  ''  Did  you  tell  her  where  Miss 
Elvellynne  is,  Paul  ?"  asked  the  dame.  ''  The 
divil  a  bit  did  I,  Mistress  Bonny,  for  fare  she 
might  be  frighted,  I  ownly  towld  her  that  Miss 
Elvellynne  had  bd  me  bring  her  by  the  same 
towkenthat  she  give  me  a  bit  of  aletther  to  de- 
livher,  which  I  did  give  my  own  self  to  Miss 
Eugany."  "And  you  had  no  difficulty  then  at 
all?"  replied  Mrs.  Bonny.  "  Divil  a  bit  did  I," 
knowingly,  replied  Paul,  "  barrin  a  bit  of  a^ 
slap,  which  she  give  me  in  return  for  a  bit  of 
a  buss  which  I  stowl  from  her  rowsy  chake  as 
I  was  lifthin  her  over  the  Alderman's  fence 
thinking  to  pay  myself  for  my  thruble." 

To  explain  Paul's  sudden  appearance,  it  is 
necessary  to  go  back  a  little.  When  La  Vipcent 
had  given  chase  to  the  Merry  Christmas  for 
the  purpose  of  rescuing  Elvellynne  from  the 
pirate's  hands,  it  will  be  remembered  that  the 
brigantine  outsailed  him,  and  that  ere  nightfall 
he  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  pursuit  as  hope- 
less, and  sail  back  to  his  old  anchorage,  from 
which  point  he  was  determined  to  start  with 
the  forlorn  hope  of  rescuing  the  four  men  who 
had  been  captured  with  him.  No  sooner  had 
the  Greyhound  '^  gone  about,"  than  the  Merry 
Christmas  performed  the  same  evolution,  there-' 
by  exactly  reversing  the  position  of  the  two  ves- 
sels, the  one  which  had  pursued  now  appearing 
to  fly  while  the  pursued  seemingly, in  turn  gave 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  103 

chase;  The  night,  which  was  just  falhrig,  fa- 
voured this  manoeuvre,  and  long  ere  the  Grey- 
hound had  reached  her  old  anchorage,  the 
Merry  Christmas,  from  superior  sailing,  had 
run  in  and  dropped  anchor  in  the  little  bay, 
(exactly  where  we  first  saw  her)  memorable 
from  the  capture  of  the  government  boat  with 
the  luckless  Schout.  From  this  point,  at  Elvel- 
lynne's  suggestion,  the  Admiral  had  despatch- 
ed Paul  with  her  instructions  to  bring  off  her 
tire-woman,  Eugenie  Vallanse,  which  he  effect- 
ed without  much  trouble,  and  it  was  her  whom 
we  have  but  just  seen  in  the  dame's  little  tap- 
room. After  the  maid's  disappearance,  the 
traveller  soon  made  a  similar  move,  and  ere 
long  the  house  was  in  silence. 

The  night  had  become  quite  stormy  and  the 
wind  swept  howling  around  the  angles  of  the 
buildings  in  hollow  blasts,  bearing  along  on  its 
breath,  the  quick  pattering  rain.  The  streets 
were  deserted  for  the  more  comfortable  fire- 
side, and  not  even  the  uncertain  foot-step  of 
dissipation's  votary,  wending  his  way  to  some 
haunt  of  revelry,  was  abroad.  It  was  during 
a  hard  blast,  that  moanet:l  piteously  as  it  rattled 
the  big  drops  against  the  windows,  that  a  fig- 
ure, carefully  opening  the  door  of  the  dame's 
little  tap-room,  issued  forth,  and  sped  with  a 
swift  but  noiseless  step  along  the  Here-Graft. 
It  was  the  traveller.  Arrived  within  the  vi- 
cinity of  the  fort,  he  crept  cautiously  forward, 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  sentinel,  whose  mea- 
sured foot-fall  he  could  distinctly  hear,  while 
the  dashing  rain  and  misty  darkness  precluded 


104  .  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

all  possibility  of  seeing  or  being  seen.  Crawl- 
ing along  carefully,  the  traveller  passed  the 
fort  and  proceeded  down  the  sloping  plot  of 
grass  between  it  and  the  river.  This  was  soon 
cleared,  and  he  reached  the  water.  Here,  he 
raised  himself  erect,  and  tried  to  peer  through 
the  all-pervading  darkness,  which  he  seemed 
to  effect,  for  again  crouching,  he  altered  his 
course  and  was  soon  by  a  post  to  which  was 
attached  a  boat.  Into  this  he  stepped,  and 
taking  a  large  knife  from  his  pocket,  applied 
it  to  the  painter.  Instead  of  separating,  it  only 
yielded  a  harsh  grating  noise.  It  was  chain. 
The  traveller  uttered  an  exclamation  of  impa- 
tience and  vexation,  and  winding  a  turn  or  two 
of  the  chain  around  both  hands,  with  a  sudden 
effort  he  snapped  it  in  tw^ain.  It  gave  forth  a 
clanking  noise,  which  was  prevented  reaching 
the  sentry's  ears  by  the  swashing  of  the  agitated 
waters,  and  the  traveller  seizing  an  oar  shoved 
off  amid  the  darkness  of  the  boihng  current. 

An  hour  elapsed  and  the  same  figure  was 
again  gliding  along  the  Here-Graft,  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  dame's.  He  reached  the  door 
and  entered ;  there  we  shall  leave  him  for  a 
few  hours  to  enjoy  the  sweets  of  repose,  till  the 
morrow  again  brings  him  into  notice, 

At  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon  the 
prisoners  were  to  be  executed.  What  were  the 
feelings  of  the  four  seamen,  through  this  dreary 
night  we  shall  not  attempt  to  depict.  Suffice 
it  to  say,  that  the  night  at  last  waned,  and  the 
glimmerings  of  the  morn  stealing  into  their 
cells,  and  faintly  lighting  up  the  damp  slimy 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  105 

walls,  announced  to  them  that  their  hour  was 
near.  The  keeper  entered  with  some  coarse 
foodj  it  vvas  the  last  they  were  ever  to  partake 
of/  What  a  thought!  But  the  stout-hearted 
sons  of  Neptune  were  either  unconscious  or 
insensible  of  their  dreadful  situation,  as  the 
following  short  scene  will  sufficiently  confirm. 
I  say,  *'  old  Dutchman,"  said  a  tall  fine-look- 
ing whiskered  Englishman,  ''  good  morning  to 
your  night-cap,"  .addressing  himself  to  the 
keeper,  who  was  almost  as  much  frightened 
as  if  himself  was  to  be  executed  instead  of  the 
merry-faced  seamen,  now  quizzing  him,  "  how's 
the  old  ooman,  eh?"  *'  Damn  my  top-lights,  old 
Dutchy,"  said  a  second,  who  was  sitting  on  a 
bench  swinging  his  legs  and  spitting  at  a  mark, 
*'  you  must  turn  out  devilish  early  in  these 
parts,  what  do  you  think  of  the  weather,  old 
boy,  eh  ?"  *'  Halloo  there,  you  son  of  a  pot- 
slewer,  cried  a  third,  very  innocently  convert- 
ing the  keeper's  hat  (which  he  had  put  down) 
into  a  spit-box,  *^  clap  your  helm  a-weather 
and  stand  this  way,  till  I  get  a  sight  of  your 
damned  ugly  mug.  Blow  me,  if  I  ai'nt  a  mind 
to  eat  you  instead  of  this  dirty  mush."  The 
fourth,  a  roguish-looking  chap,  very  seriously 
proposed  Id  his  ship-mates  to  strip  the  poor 
keeper,  seize  him  up,  and  give  him  a  dozen 
with  their  knife  lanyards,  laid  up  together. 
This  in  fact,  they  were  about  to  do,  when  the 
guard  arriving  to  conduct  them  to  the  place  of 
execution,  prevented  their  giving  Mynheer 
(as  they  said)  a  taste  of  man  o'  war  discipline. 
Slowly  the  unfortunate, seamen  were  marched 


106 

along  through  the  gate,   and  on  the  Bouwery 
roa&,  under  a  guard  of  twenty  soldiers. 

Meanwhile  as  day  dawned,  and  as  soon  as 
the  city  gates  were  thrown  open,  the  people 
who  all  rose  with  the  day,  began  to  flock  forth 
in  groups  towards  the  scene.  It  was  a  beauti- 
ful September  morning.  The  filmy  mist  which 
had  hung  like  a  veil  over  every  thing,  began 
to  lift,  and  disclosed  the  herbage,  glistening 
with  jewels  of  a  thousand  hues.  The  Bouwery 
road  was  thronged  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  among  the  trees  and  foliage,  with  peo- 
ple of  every  description.  Here  sauntered 
along  a  maiden,- accompanied  by  her  lover, 
while  the  disappointed  swain  lingered  in  the 
rear,  watching  their  every  action,  and  feasting 
his  soul  on  jealousy.  There  trod  a  vindictive 
looking  Wall-man,  while  with  a  look  of  de- 
rision, a  Vly-man,  bustled  by  him.  Quite  in 
front  of  the  revellers,  might  be  seen  the  burly 
magistrate,  accompanied  by  his  worthy  friend 
Mynheer  Brevoort,  for  whom^he  showed  a  sin- 
gulardiking,  since  his  strong  assistance  on  the 
evening  previous.  The  tall  form  of  ''  Wat  of 
the  sledge,"  moved  along  encircled  by  a  band  of 
his  friends,  while  he  of  the  mill,  was  in  a  simi- 
lar manner  escorted  by  those  whc^  sustained 
him  as  their  champion.  There  had  been  a 
challenge  from  both  parties,  each  one  braving 
the  other  to  some  one  feat  w^hich  he  w^as  to 
name  and  perform;  and  he  that  failed  to  do 
both,  was  to  be  adjudged  the  loser.  What 
these  feats  were,  had  not  been  named  by  either 
champion,  but  it  was  easily  divined,  that  Wat 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  107 

of  the  sledge,  would  rrot  wander  very  far  from 
his  trade. 

Among  the  many  who  thronged  the  highway, 
was  the  traveller,  whom  we  left  the  preceding 
evening  at  Dame  Bonny's.  He  seemed  to  be 
known  to  no  one,  for  he  was  walking  apart 
from  the  crowd,  and  in  an  independent  man- 
ner, which  seemed  to  court  the  acquaintance 
of  none,  still  he  was  an  attentive  listener  to 
all  that  was  said  within  his  hearing,  and  often 
propounded  questions  to  the  urchin  at  his  side, 
whom  he  had  hired  as  a  guide. 

Our  traveller  seemed  not  aware,  however, 
that  he  himself  was  no  inconsiderable  object  of 
attention  and  curiosity  to  many.  He  was  evi- 
dently of  the  higher  class,  as  his  dress  betoken- 
ed ;  still  he  was  unattended  either  by  slave  or 
servant,  and  had  given,  at  the  dame's  where  he 
lodged,  no  name  whereby  he  might  be  known 
or  distinguished. 

This  curiosity,  however,  about  the  stranger, 
gradually  subsided,  or  gave  place  to  the  more 
important  and  immediate  considerations  of  the 
day,  as  they  drew  near  to  the  spot  selected 
for  the  coming  contest.  It  was  a  level  piece 
of  sward,  skirted  by  venerable  old  trees,  throw- 
ing their  gnarled  branches  overhead,  till  quite 
meeting,  and  thus  forming  a  grateful  protection 
against  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun.  The 
grass  beneath  had  been  thickly  strewn  over 
with  bark  from  the  neighbouring  tanneries,  to 
prevent  any  slip  of  the  foot  which  might  occur 
to  the  discomfiture  of  either  champion. 

When  our  traveller  had  arrived  at  the  scene 


108  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

of  action,  he  found  the  two  antagonists  already 
preparing  for  the  contest.  Wat  o'  the  sledge 
was  receivii:ig  from  two  of  his  workmen,  a 
brace  of  heavy  hammers,  each  one  weighing 
fifty  pounds,  and  made  exactly  alike.  Rob  o' 
the  mill  was  attending  in  person  to  the  unload- 
ing of  a  small  cart,  which  contained  an  im- 
mense sack  of  salt,  marked  in  large  figures 
800,  to  signify  that  it  weighed  that  number  of 
pounds 

The  friends  of  both  parties  were  gathered 
around  their  respective  leaders,  laughing,  talk- 
ing, and  throwing  in  words  of  encouragement. 
Here  and  there  were  erected  little  booths,  un- 
der whose  shelter  the  owners  vended  cider, 
hollands,  cakes,  and  other  sorts  of  refresh- 
ments, to  whoever  called  for  them.  Boys  were 
"Ditching  seawants,  young  men  quoits,  while 
lere  and  there  might  be  seen  a  comely  maiden 
!  istening,  well  pleased,  to  the  tale  which  some 
favoured  youth  was  whispering  in  her  ear. 
The  spot  selected  for  the  trial  of  strength,  lay 
just  at  the  foot  of  the  slight  elevation,  called 
Bayard's  Mount,  on  which  the  prisoners  were 
to  be  executed.  On  the  crown  of  this  little 
elevation,  and  looming  up  amid  the  mist  which 
yet  lingered  around  its  summit,  stood  the  gal- 
lows. A  large  group  of  men  and  boys  was 
collected  directly  beneath  this  hideous  ma- 
chine, attentively  viewing  its  height  and 
strength,  and  some,  as  their  gesticulations 
w^ould  seem  to  indicate,  were  passing  com- 
ments upon  it,  or  with  upraised  hands,  point- 
ing out  some  deficiency  or  excellence.      At 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


10§ 


length  all  preliminaries  being  settled,  the  wav-* 
ing  crowd  below  began  to  move,  and  the  an- 
tagonists took  their  places  on  the  cleared  spot 
which  was  left  solely  to  them. 

It  was  the  custom  for  him  who  had  been 
last  beaten,  always  to  perform  the  first  feat, 
and  thereby  test  the  strength  of  the  other. 
Wat  o'  the  sledge  stood  at  one  end  of  the 
little  square  with  his  ponderous  hammers,  one 
on  either  side,  resting  on  the  ground.  His 
sleeves  were  rolled  up  above  the  elbows,  and 
displayed  his  arms,  long,  brawny,  and  of  a 
nondescript  colour,  something  between  a  light 
blue  and  a  brown.  The  miller  stood  a  little 
distance  from  him,  and  in  a  listless  attitude,  as 
if  nut  caring  which  way  the  fortune  of  the  day 
would  turn  ;  but  there  was  a  quick  heaving  of 
his  powerful  and  finely  moulded  chest,  and  a 
slight  quivering  of  the  lip,  which  told  to  a  keen- 
eyed  observer,  such  as  our  traveller,  that  Rob 
o'  the  mill  was  not  really  so  disinterested  or 
apathetic  as  he  would  seem.  "  Come,  miller^^ 
cried  the  high  sheriff,  *'  show  your  metal  to 
the  smit  and  let  this  day  be  memorable  for  the 
victory  turned." 

The  miller  stripped  his  dusty  coat  from  his 
broad  shoulders,  and  rolled  up  his  sleeves  to 
the  elbow.  His  arms,  like  his  stature,  were 
short  and  thick,  while  those  of  the  smith's  were 
long  and  sinewy.  ''  Well,  Wat,"  said  he  of 
the  mill,  walking  across  the  little  arena,  and 
shaking  hands  with  the  brawny  smith,  which 
was  always  the  custom  previous  to  the  contest, 
to  show  that  the  champions  bore  no  ill-will  to 
10 


110       ^ 

each  other,  but  were  simply  performing,  in  all 
good  nature,  the  parts  which  had  been  assignr 
ed  them  by  their  respective  parties,  ''  yonder  is 
my  task,  by  the  little  barrow,"  pointing  to  the 
sack  which  was  marked  800,  ''  can  you  back 
it  and  walk  ten  rods,  and  round  again?"  ''  Faith, 
friend  Rob,"  repUed  the  smith,  "  it  is  a  weighty 
w^ork,  that  same,  but  nath'less,  after  you  have 
accomplished  it,  I  will  e'en  try  my  hand."  It 
was  a  great  weight  to  carry,  eight  hundred 
pounds  of  salt,  and  many  doubted  if  either  of 
the  champions  would  be  able  to  effect  it.  The 
weight  itself,  however,  was  not  the  great  draw- 
back, for  when  once  fairly  on  the  shoulders,  it 
was  no  more  than  a  very  strong  man,  such  as 
the  two  champions  were  supposed  to  be,  ought 
to  carry.  The  great  difficulty  was  in  raising 
the  load  from  the  ground,  and  seating  it  once 
fairly  on  the  shoulders,  and  here  the  miller 
had  the  undoubted  advantage,  for  to  raise  a 
full  sack  from  the  ground  to  the  shoulders,  re- 
quires nearly  as  much  tact  or  sleight  of  hand, 
as  strength. 

The  miller,  from  lifting  heavy  sacks  daily, 
had  acquired  this  practice,  while  the  smith  was 
a  tyro  in  the  art,  and  being  well  aware  v/here- 
iii  the  real  difficulty  consisted,  Rob  o'  the  mill 
had  selected  this  particular  feat,  hoping  there- 
in to  outdo  his  antagonist.  'The  ground  was 
measured  off,  and  the  stout  miller  kneeling  on 
one  knee  by  the  sack,  with  both  hands  over 
his  right  shoulder,  seized  the  ligatures  or  loops, 
which  were  purposely  attached  to  accommo- 
date the  grasp.     All  eyes  were   intent  upon 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  Ill 

Rob,  as  he  made  a  moment's  delay  the  better 
to  adjust  the  sack,  and  Wat  o'  the  sledge  stood 
by,  attentively  scanning  the  miller's  every  mo- 
tion. Gradually  he  bent  forwards  till  his  fore- 
head nearly  touched  the  ground,  the  sack 
straining  and  cracking  as  if  it  would  burst,  till 
at  last  the  whole  weight  was  thrown  into  it. 
One  after  the  other  -the  corners  lifted,  as  the 
contents  settled  down,  till  the  ponderous 
weight  was  fairly  clear  of  the  ground.  With 
a  steady  motion,  Rob  raised  from  his  bended 
knee,  regained  his  footing,  and  proceeded  for- 
ward with  a  powerful  step.  ''  Hurrah  for  the 
miller !  Rob  o'  the  mill  for  ever !"  shouted  the 
Wall  men,  in  tones  of  encouragement. 

Fbr  the  first  eight  rods  the  miller  proceeded 
with  a  steady  step  ;  but  ere  he  had  reached  the 
point  at  which  he  was  to  turn  and  come  back, 
his  steps  began  slightly  to  waver. 

The  Wall  men  saw  that  their  champion  be- 
gan to  fail,  and  set  up  another  encouraging 
shout  of,  "Well  done,  miller  !  well  done  !  To 
it  strong!  You're  half  way!" — and  other 
similar  encouraging  cries. 

The  miller  picked  up  additional  strength  and 
resolution,  and  for  a  moment  regained  a  firm 
step  ;  but  ere  he  had  reached  half-way  on  Kis 
return  to  the  starting  point,  his  steps  again  be- 
gan to  falter,  and  deviate  widely  from  a  straight 
line.  Still  he  hung  manfully  to  the  huge  load, 
and  bent  him  over  to  the  task.  With  dilated 
nostril  and  bulging  eye,  he  neared  the  goal. 
The  bag  began  to  surge  downwards,  and  his 
hands  were  drawn  nearly  over  to  the  middle  of 


Ijiat  THE  briqantine:  or. 


his  back,  while  his  forehead  was  bent  almost 
to  the  ground.  Down,  downwards  sallied  the 
sack;  but  the  tenacious  Rob  still  kept  his 
powerful  gripe,  till  just  at  the  goal  it  relaxed, 
the  sack  fell,  but  was  fairly  to  the  mark. 

The  Wall  men  raised  a  deafening  shout  of 
approbation,  and  closed  round  their  champion. 
The  exertion  had  been  great,  but  a  glass  of 
good  hollands  soon  revived  the  merry  miller, 
and  he  took  his  stand  among  the  many,  to 
witness  Wat's  performance. ' 

The  gigantic  smith  knelt,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  the  miller  had  done  before  him,  and 
raised  the  sack:  but,  in  attempting  to  regain 
his  footing,  swerved  a  little  to  one  side,  and 
his  ponderous  burden  tumbled  heavily  to  the 
ground. 

The  Wall  men  set  up  a  shout  of  exultation, 
but  the  smith  soon  bent  himself  again  to  the 
task,  and  this  time  with  success. 

Stung  with  the  disgrace  of  his  first  failure, 
the  smith  strided  forwards,  nor  was  there  any 
indication  of  wavering  when  he  had  even 
reached  so  far  as  the  turning  point.  All  eyes 
were  intent  upon  him,  when  one  of  the  two 
loops  broke.  With  the  quickness  of  thought, 
Wat  lowered  the  useless  hand,  and  bringing  it 
round  behind  him,  supported  the  sack  below. 
Notwithstanding  this  great  disadvantage,  the 
powerful  smith  staggered  on,  reeling  beneath 
the  sack  like  a  drunken  man.  He  gained  the- 
goal,  proceeded  several  yards  beyond,  and  then 
dropped  the  sack. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  113 

The  Vly  men,  in  turn,  shouted  in  defiance, 
and  loudly  extolled  their  leader. 

A  few  moments  rested  the  champions,  while 
the  company  dispersed  to  the  neighbouring 
booths  to  refresh  themselves  and  talk  over  the 
matter. 

The  Vly  men,  now  that  their  chief  had  met 
the  enemy  on  his  own  ground  and  come  off 
best,  did  not  doubt  the  event  of  the  feat  to  fol- 
low, but  already  began  to  talk  about  victory. 

The  traveller  meanwhile  was  an  idle  but  an 
interested  looker-on,  and  lingered  around  the 
spot,  while  others  were  gone  to  the  little  booths 
which  held  out  their  attractions  all  around. 
He  lifted  the  hammers  of  the  smith,  examined 
their  workmanship,  and  put  many  questions  to 
his  little  guide. 

At  length  the  company  returned  to  the  arena, 
and  the  smith  proposed  to  the  miller  that  they 
should  now  attempt  his  feat,  at  the  same  time 
twirling  one  of  the  weighty  hammers  about 
between  his  finger  and  thumb. 

''Aye  but,  Wat,"  replied  he  o'  the  mill, 
"  you  do  n't  mean  to  heave  these  lumps  of  iron, 
do  you?"  at  the  same  time  weighing  one  of  the 
hammers  in  his  hand. 

''Aye,  friend  Rob,  that  do  I  verily,"  rejoined 
he  o'  the  sledge  ;  "  and  he  that  throws  his 
hammer  to  the  greatest  distance  from  the  mark 
I  will  make  with  my  foot,  wins  the  day. 
What  say  you,  Rob?"  asked  the  confident 
smith.  "  Will  you  try  it,  or  w411  you  e'en 
give  up  the  day  without  a  stroke  for  it  ?" 

The  miller  stood  irresolute,  for  he  felt  that 
10^ 


114  THE  brigantink:  or, 

to  contend  with  Wat  at  his  own  trade  was  use- 
less. The  Wall  men  urged  him  on ;  but  he 
was  resolute,  and  protested  against  contending 
with  a  man  who  had  beaten  him  at  his  own 
trick. 

The  smith  looked  proudly  and  confidently 
around  as  he  stood  with  the  hammer  in  his 
bony  hand,  and  cried  to  the  Wall  men  in  a 
taunting  tone  to  produce  their  champion,  or 
the  day.  was  his. 

There  were  among  the  WaU  men  many 
men  of  very  great  strength,  but  none  so  pre- 
eminently gifted  as  Wat  o'  the  sledge,  and  not 
one  could  be  found  who  would  venture  to  com- 
pete with  the  mighty  smith.  The  Wall  men^ 
much  disheartened,  were  about  relinquishing 
the  palm,  and  the  exulting  smith  was  loudly 
declaring  the  day  to  be  his,  when  the  traveller, 
who  had  been  standing  by,  a  disinterested 
spectator,  and  altogether  unnoticed  in  the 
general  interest,  mildly  stepped  forward  and 
addressed  the  vaunting  smith. 

*'  Friend  smith,"  said  he,  "  if  the  miller 
agreeth,  and  his  partj^  is  williog,  I  will  even 
venture  a  little  throw  for  the  honour  of  the 
Wall  men.'' 

The  smith  looked  at  the  coated  figure  of  the 
traveller  in  scorn,  and  replied  that  he  was 
ready  for  any  man,  Wall  man,  or  traveller,  or 
whatever  he  might  be. 

It  was  soon  noised  throughout  the  assem- 
Uage  that  the  Wall  men  had  found  a  cham- 
pion who  would  venture  to  compete  with  the 
smith,  and  the  company  all  pressed  forwards 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  ^  115 

to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  man  who  was  so 
audacious. 

The  Vly  men,  who  had  .till  now  felt  the  day 
their  own,  pricked  forward  in  some  alarm  when 
they  heard  the  intelhgence,  and  gathered  round 
the  little  arena. 

The  crowd  soon  became  quite  dense,  and 
many  who  were  unable  to  obtain  a  position 
where  they  might  view  the  new  comer,  had 
recourse  to  the  old  trees,  (before  mentioned  as 
throwing  their  arms  directly  over  the  spot,) 
and  the  limbs  overhead  were  soon  alive  with 
men  and  boys  of  both  and  neither  party, 
anxious  to  get  a*  sight  of  the  contest,  which 
had  now  doubly  increased  in  interest. 

The  traveller  was  now  regarded  by  all  as  an 
object  of  interest;  but  many,  comparing  his 
frame  with  that  of  the  gigantic  smith,  began  to 
make  inferences  not  at  all  in  his  favour. 

*'  By  St.  Nicholas,  sir  traveller,"  said  the 
burly  hoof  d  Schout,  at  that  instant  coming  up, 
and  recognising  the  stranger,  whom  he  had 
met  on  the  previous  evening,  and  whom  he 
had  invited  to  be  present  at  the  festivity,  '^you 
are  here  to  some  purpose,  I  trow ;  but  beware, 
for  he  of  the  anvil  has  the  advantage  of  you  in 
.  weight,  inches,  and  years." 

The  wall-men  very  readily  and  gladly  gave 
their  consent  to  the  traveller's  offer,  while  he 
o'  the  mill  as  strongly  seconded  them,  glad  to 
be  relieved  from  bearing  the  most  prominent 
part  in  a  strife  which  had  always  ended  in  the 
defeat  and  disgrace  of  his  party  and  himself 
Permission  being   granted  to  the  traveller  to 


116  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

play  the  part  which  he  had  assumed,  he  made 
no  other  preparation  than  by  rolKng  up  his 
sleeves,  which  action  displayed  to  the  eager 
eyes  of  the  party,  whose  cause  he  had  es- 
poused, a  small  delicate  white  arm  elegantly 
tapering  towards  the  wrist.  Many  exclama- 
tions of  surprise  and  even  vexation,  were 
vented  at  this  sight ;  for  how  was  a  gentle- 
man, one  with  a  white  and  delicate  arm 
(as  he  had  displayed)  to  hold  any  even  game, 
with  the  rough  smith  inured  to  toil  and  hard- 
ship. As  the  traveller  rolled  his  sleeve  farther 
up,  the  white  arm  began  to  swell,  and  swell 
till  near  the  elbow  it  had  assumed  quite  a 
goodly  size,  notwithstanding  the  delicate  taper. 
''  Sir  Smith,"  said  he,  '*  having  finished  this 
little  preparation,  wdll  you  make  a  heave  ?" 
**  Not  with  one  who  is  nameless,"  gruffly,  re- 
plied the  smith,  willing  to  vent  his  spleen  at 
being  pitted  against  a  gentle  white-armed  man 
in  that  way.  ''  We  always  have  a  name  here, 
sir  traveller,  and  suppose  that  you  have  one  ; 
mine  is,  Wat  o'  the  sledge,"  haughtily  con- 
cluded he.  '^  Truly  as  you  say.  Sir,  Wat  o' 
the  sledge  ;  I  have  a  name.  You  may  put  me 
down  as  one  William,  or  Willy  Wintle ;  and  now 
if  it  pleases,  will  you  even  make  your  throw  ?" 
''And  what?"  asked  the  smith,  sneeringly ; 
*' will  you  heave  for,  sir  traveller?  for  you 
would  perhaps  like  some  remuneration  for  the 
'  great  and  uncommon  exertion  which  you  will 
make."  "  Have  you  yet  seen  the  tools  which 
we  of  the  Vly  handle?"  "  No,"  replied  the 
traveller  to  these  taunts,  in  a  calm  mild  voice. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


117 


*'  I  have  not  seen  any  thing  but  those  two 
large  heavy  hammers  at  your  feet.  Truly 
you  would'nt  use  these."  ''  Ha,  ha,"  roared 
the  smith,  thinking  his  antagonist  was  already 
alarmed  at  the  sight  of  the  weighty  tools ; 
*'  truly,  sir  traveller,  or  Wintle,  these  are  pre- 
cisely the  little  things  I  would  challenge  you 
to  throw,  and  that  too  for  whatever  you 
please."  ''  What  say  you  shall  be  the 
stakes  ?"  "  Your  services  for  one  year  against 
that  trinket,"  replied  Wintle,  pulling  out  a 
beautiful  golden  time-keeper  set  with  jewels, 
which  he  deposited  in  the  smith's  hand.  ''  It  is 
a  beautiful  piece,  truly,  Sir  Wintle,"  said  the 
smith,  turning  the  watch  over  in  his  huge 
paw  ;  ''  and  I  should  hardly  know  in  what  corner 
of  my  shop  to  deposit  it ;  but  nath'less,"  (con- 
tinued he,  returning  the  piece  to  Wintle,)  ''  it 
shall  be  e'en  as  you  say.  My  services  for  one 
year  at  w^hatever  you  please,  against  the  re- 
peater. And  now,  sir  traveller,  in  good  feel- 
ing, I  would  e'en  advise  ye  to  doff  that  great 
coat,  for  on  my  word  you'll  need  it.  When 
Wa't  o'  the  sledge  heaves,  for  the  honour  of 
the  Vly,  and  a  watch  besides,  worth  more  than 
his  shop,  tools,  and  every  thing  he  owns  in  the 
world ;  it  will  be  no  child's  [>lay,  I  can  assure 
ye."  "  Nay,  nay,  sir  smith,"  replied  he  of  the 
road,  "  an  you  beat  me  the  "first  throw,  it  will 
be  time  enough  to  (doff)  the  garment  at  the 
second."  "  Oh,  doff  the  coat,  doff  the  coat, 
sir  traveller,"  cried  many  of  the  Wall-men 
prepossessed  in  favour  of  Willy  Wintle,  not 
only  because  he  had  assumed  their  part,  but 


118 

because  of  his  mild  and  unpretending  diction. 
"  Aye,  doff  the  coat,  Mynheer  Wintle,"  said 
the  officious  Hoofd  Schout,  stumping  up,  and 
*'  laying  hold"  of  the  garment.  '^  Nay,  nay, 
my  friends,"  persisted  Willy  ;  ''  I  am  about 
making  a  throw  with  the  stout  smith,  for  your 
honours  and  a  little  stake  we  have  pending  be- 
tween us,  an  it  please  you,  I  would  rather  do 
it  mine  own  w^ay."  ''  Let  him  alone,  let  him 
do  it,"  again  cried  the  vacillating  multitude, 
and  the  Hoofd  Schout  gently  repulsed,  step- 
ped back.  ''  Now,  Sir  Wat  o'  the  sledge," 
said  Willy,  ''  to  it  like  a  man,  and  put  no  trust 
in  a  white  arm." 

The  smith  looked  contemptuously  at  his  ad- 
versary, and,  as  if  to  illustrate  it  practically, 
seized  one  of  the  hammers,  and  with  a  care- 
less toss,  threw  it  from  him.  The  ponderous 
missle,  through  carelessly  thrown,  had  gather- 
ed great  impetus  from  the  powerful  arm  which 
hurled  it,  and  rising  high  in  the  air,  descended 
to  the  ground  some  feet  beyond  the  last  year's 
throw,  (which  had  been  marked  as  a  great 
feat)  where  it  lay  half  buried  in  the  sod.  A 
shout  ensued  from  the  Vly-men,  for  contrary 
to  their  expectations  the  hammer  had  flown 
beyond  the  last  year's  throw,  which  had  w^on 
them  the  victory.  *'  There,  sir  traveller,"  said 
the  smith,  not  even  watching  the  event  of  his 
cast,  but  turning  immediately  to  his  competitor, 
*'  there  is  my  throw,  can  you  better  it?"  ^'  No," 
returned  his  opponent ;  "  but  I  would  advise 
you  to  do  it,  and  throw  with  more  care,  else 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  119 

your  stalwart  limbs,  friend  smith,  will  be  at  my 
disposal  for  one  year." 

''Pooh,  pooh,  idle  vaunting,"  returned  the 
smith ;  '^  make  as  good  a  cast.  Sir  Wintle, 
and  I  will  not  be  backward  to  better  it."  The 
traveller  smiled,  and  stepping  forward,  with  a 
careless  air,  and  great  seeming  ease,  lifted  the 
remaining  hammer  from  the  ground,  weighed 
it  well  in  his  hand,  examined  it  carefully,  and 
putting  one  foot  forwards,  with  a  single  swing 
dismissed  the  massive  iron  from  his  grasp.  A 
shout  of  acclamation  from  both  parties  rent 
the  air,  as  the  hammer  skimming  along  the 
ground  buried  itself  a  yard  beyond  the  smith's. 

The  miller  stepped  up  and  took  the  traveller 
by  the  hand,  while  the  smith  looked  around 
with  mingled  feelings  of  astonishment,  vexa- 
tion, and*  alarm.  He  thought  of  the  bargain 
contracted  between  himself  and  the  stranofer, 
who  had  just  shown  a  specimen  of  his  enor- 
mous strength,  and  wished  that  he  had  either 
never  made  the  bargain,  or  that  he  knew  how 
much  of  the  stranger's  force  remained  behind. 
He  looked  around  and  saw  the  countenances  of 
the  Wall-men  brightening  up,  w^hile  his  own  par- 
ty appeared  dejected.  To  be  outdone  now,  after 
vaunting  so  much  as  he  had,  and  to  be  outdone 
at  his  own  trick  too,  would  be  a  great  dis- 
grace, besides  bringing  upon  higfi  the  forfeit  of 
his  person  for  the  period  of  one  year.  Mad- 
dened by  these  reflections  and  the  momentary 
elation  of  the  opposite  party,  the  stout  smith 
seized  the  hammer  brought  to  him,  and  bent 
all  his  energies  to  the  coming  cast. 


120 

There  was  no  careless  parade  of  noncha- 
lance, no  vaunting  boasts,  or  taunts  thrown  at 
his  opponent,  but  in  silence  he  eyed  the  dis- 
tance before  him,  carefully  examined  the 
ground  under  foot,  rubbed  his  hand  with  sand 
and  poised  the  heavy  hammer  in  mid-air.  For 
a  moment  it  moved  with  a  slow  pendulous  mo- 
tion, till  having  gained  momentum,  it  flew  with 
the  speed  of  thought  around  the  smith's  head, 
performing  four  or  five  evolutions,  till  discharg- 
ed from  his  powerful  gripe,  it  went  whizzing 
through  the  air  and  fell  at  nearly  twice  the 
distance  reached  in  the  former  cast.  '^  There, 
sir  traveller,"  said  the  smith,  attentively  watch- 
ing his  cast  this  time,  and  appearing  well  sa- 
tisfied with  it,  ^'an  you  go  beyond  that  you  are 
a  better  man  than  Wat  o'  the  sledge,  and  the 
day  is  your's,  together  with  my  services  for 
one  year."  ''  But  will  you  not  try  again," 
responded  the  traveller,  ''  and  mayhap  better 
that."  ''  No,  no,"  replied  he  of  the  hammer, 
"  an  you  better  it  the  day  as  I  said  before  is 
yours."  The  smith  had  made  a  powerful  cast 
and  one  of  which  he  need  not  have  been 
ashamed.  It  was  then  with  no  common  de- 
gree of  anxiety,  and  attention,  that  they  of 
both  parties,  watched  the  traveller  as  he  once, 
more  took  his  stand  on  the  arena.  He  too, 
after  the  smith's  example  threw  aside  all  ap- 
pearance of  carelessness,  and  viewed  the 
ground  with  a  quick  unhesitating  eye,  but  with- 
out that  look  of  anxiety  which  had  overspread 
the  countenance  of  his  opponent.  As  he 
grasped  the  hanamer,  the  muscles  stood  out 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  121 

with  the  tension  like  whip-cord,  and  gathered 
beneath  the  elbow  in  a  large  bulb,  that  evinced 
no  common  strength.  The  smith  eyed  his  arm 
with  admiration  and  even  the  dullest  now  began 
to  perceive  the  beautiful  proportions  of  his  close- 
knit  frame.  A  few  powerful  swings  put  the 
sledge  in  motion,  till  flying  round  the  travel- 
ler's head  with  too  great  velocity  for  the  sight 
to  follow,  it  was  discharged  from  his  hand  and 
was  seen  again  skimming  along  the  ground. 
It  reached  the  smith's  hammer,  passed  on  quite 
over  and  beyond,  and  lit  on  the  green  sward, 
ten  feet  on  the  other  side.  An  acclamation  ojf 
joy  from  a  hundred  stentorian  lungs,  rent  the 
still  air,  and  during  the  general  rejoicing  the 
traveller  slipped  on  one  side  unnoticed. 

At  this  juncture,  the  boys  shouted,  ^*  The  pri- 
soners, the  prisoners;  there  come  the  spies," 
and  looking  along  the  road,  the  multitude  per- 
ceived the  arras  glittering  in  the  sun,  and  a 
moment  aft(?r,  the  four  unfortunate  men  them- 
selves, walking  in  the  centre  of  the  guard,  but 
unpinioned.  * 

During  the  momentary  interest  caused  by 
the  approach  of  the  prisoners,  the  traveller 
being,  as  we  have  before  said,  unnoticed,  suc- 
ceeded in  making  a  retreat.  When  the  inter- 
est had  somewhat  subsided  and  the  wall-men 
turned  to  look  for  the  stranger  who  had  thus 
unexpectedly  turned  the  day  in  their  favour, 
he  was  gone.  As  the  prisoners  under  the  care 
of  the  guard  we're  slowly  toiling  up  towards 
the  summit  of  that  elevation  on  which  they 
were  to  breathe  their  last,  quite  a  different  and 
11 


122  THE    BRIGANTINE  :  OR, 

unexpected  party  were  also  travelling  towards 
the  same  point  of  destination  on  the  other  side 
of  the  mount.     They  were  quite  a  numerous 
party,  numbering  perhaps  about   forty;  well 
armed,  marching  in  close  file,  and  headed  by 
a  young  man  in  a  naval  uniform,  who  seemed 
to  direct  their  movements.    In  his  hand  he  held 
a  drawn  sw^ord,at  his  belt  w^as  suspended  a  brace 
of  pistols,  and  his  whole  tout  ensemble  was  al- 
together that  of  one  seemingly  bent  upon  some 
daring  and  dangerous  enterprise.     It  was  La 
Vincent.     The  shout  from  the  crowed  announc- 
ing the  approach  of  the  prisoners,  informed  him 
there  was  no  time  to  be  lost.     With  accelerat- 
ed step  he  marched  up  his  men,  and  on  reach- 
ing the  brow^  of  the  hill  where  stood  the  hateful 
gallows,  they  were  confronted  face  to  face  with 
the   approaching  guard..      The  instrument   of 
death  reared  its  horrid  form  directly  before  and 
about  midway  between  the  two  parties.  ^'  Si- 
lence, all,"  thundered  La   Vincent.     '^  Present 
arms,  take  aim ;  and  now%"  %aid  he,  addressing 
himself  to  the  astonished   guard,'"  surrender, 
lay  down  your  arms,  and  give  up  the  prisoners, 
or  I  fire."     The  guards  taken  so  unexpectedly, 
very  considerately   complied  wath  the  modest 
request,  laid  down  their  arms,  wheeled  about, 
and  at  La  Vincent's   command,  very  quietly 
marched  dow^n  the  hill,  leaving  the  prisoners 
behind  them.     The  seamen  gave  three  loud, 
good,  hearty,  English  cheers  to  w^elcome  back 
their  ship-mates,  so  suddenly  delivered  from  an 
impending  fate,  wheeled  about  with  their  lead- 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  123 

er  and  marched  back  in  the  direction  whence 
they  had  come. 

'*  'Twas  well  done,"  muttered  the  traveller, 
who  at  a  little  distance  leaning  against  a  tree, 
had  watched  the  whole  movement.  The  sea- 
men soon  disappeared,  winding  along  beneath 
the  trees  till  their  march  terminated  at  that 
point  of  land  now  called  Corlear's  Hook,  here 
they  embarked  in  the  boats  waiting  for  them, 
and  shoving  out  into  the  stream,  were  soon  ra- 
pidly pulling  for  the  Buttermilk  channel.  This 
daring  exploit  struck  consternation  into  the 
hearts  of  many,  and  the  cry  of  ''  The  British," 
"  The  British,'^  was  a  sound  that  speedily  put 
an  end  to  all  farther  festivity.  The  disap- 
pointed people  hurried  in  groups  towards  the 
city,  and  such  was  the  rapidity  of  the  move- 
ments that  many  of  the  booths,  deserted  by 
their  owners  remained  standing  where  they 
were. 

The  last  of  the  hurrying  crowd  had  disap- 
peared at  a  turti  in  the  road,  when  the 
portly  figure  of  the  burly  Hoofd  Schout  issued 
from  the  door  of  a  little  hostelry  near  by, 
where  he  had  probably  tarried  for  an  ad- 
ditional glass  of  Hollands,  and  betook  himself 
to  the  road. 

He  had  proceeded  perhaps  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  or  more,  and  had  arrived  at  a  deep  glen, 
or  indentation  in  the  road  just  about  where 
Pearl-street  crosses  present  Chatham,  when 
he  became  aware  of  a  rapid  foot-step  behind 
him.  At  the  bottom  of  this  glen  was  a  rude 
bridge,   affording   a  passage  over  the  water, 


124  THE    BRIGANTINE  :  OR, 

which  set  up  t(m  that  point  from  the  river. 
The  Schout,  as  we  have  said,  had  arrived  at 
this  point  when  he  became  aware  of  approach- 
ing footsteps. 

In  the  plenitude  of  his  soul,  but  whether 
moved  by  the  recollections  of  the  buxom  land- 
lady, or  by  the  influence  of  her  Hollands,  we 
cannot  determine,  he  began  to  hum  a  low 
Dutch  air  to  wile  away  the  moments,  until  the 
approaching  personage,  whoever  he  might 
be,  should  come  up.  He  had  hardly  com- 
menced exercising  his  musical  talent,  when  his 
attention  was  directed  towards  the  point  where 
he  had  heard  the  footsteps,  by  a  fine  manly 
voice,  half  singing,  half  chanting  the  follow- 
ing words,  which  seemed  to  be  composed  at 
the  performer's  pleasure. 

The  green  wood  tree,  and  the  birds  for  me  ; 

And  the  roar  of  the  laughing  sea  ; 

Where  we  fear  no  Schout,  as  we  turn  about 

On  wings  Hke  the  eagle  free. 

The  ship  flies  fast  in  the  roaring  blast, 

Which  bends  the  yards,  and  sways  the  mast ; 

But  we  fear  no  breeze  on  the  flashing  seas. 

And  laugh  when  the  storm  is  past. 

*'By  St.  Nicholas,  a  good  and  a  merry  song, 
sir  traveller,"  said  the  Hoofd  Schout,  as  the 
new  comer  made  his  appearance  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill,  ''  thou  art  as  good  at  the  song  as 
the  hammer.  Truly,  an  thou  art  going  to- 
wards the  city,  I  would  willingly  bear  thee 
company,  and  can  perhaps  lend  thee  a  hand  at 
a  stave." 

"  With  right  good  will,  Sir  Hoofd  Schout, 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  125 

would  I  bear  thee  company,  and  e'en  try  w  it 
thee  at  a  song,  for  a  cup  of  the  dame's  best  Hol- 
lands," replied  the  traveller,  or  as  he  had  stjled 
himself  at  the  fete,  Willy  Wintle, ''  but  I  fear  me 
you  would  weary  of  my  company,  ere  we  had 
passed  a  third  of  the  journey.  So  saying,  the 
traveller  stepped  to  the-  road  side,  where  was 
a  clump  of  tall  hazels  and  young  hickories. 
From  among  these  he  selected  the  tallest  and 
stoutest  wand,  which  he  cut  with  his  knife  and 
stripped  of  its  twigs  and  branches.  ^'  Ha,  sir 
traveller,"  said  the  magistrate,  who  was  watch- 
ing his  movements  and  thinking  he  was  cut- 
ting a  cane,  "  methinks  so  stout  a  man  as  you 
have  this  day  proved  yourself  to  be,  should 
need  no  artificial  aid,  on  the  good  highway." 
"  Nay,"  replied  the  traveller,  carelessly  saun- 
tering down  the  little  declivity,  ''  but  touching 
that,  I  would  fain  have  a  word  with  thee,  while 
I  prune  the  stick,  at  which  I  crave  your  assist- 
ance." The  magistrate  held  one  end  of  the 
wand,  while  the  traveller  with  his  knife  pro- 
ceeded to  clear  it  of  all  twigs,  stems,  knots, 
and  other  protuberances,  which  having  effected, 
he  closed  his  knife,  put  it  in  his  pocket  and 
addressed  the  magistrate.  "  Friend  Hoofd 
Schout,"  said  he,  ''  touching  the  matter  of  the 
wand,  I  would  fain  have  a  word  with  thee,  as 
I  have  cut  it  and  trimmed  it  for  a  very  curious 
purpose.  "  What  may  that  be,  Sir  Wintle," 
asked  the  unconscious  Schout.  ^'  Why,"  re- 
plied the  traveller,  ''  there  have  been  sundry 
disturbances  lately,  at  the  east,  caused  by  some 
unknown  thing,  denominated  witchcraft,  of 
11* 


126  THE  BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

which,  you  being  a  man  of  erudition,  have 
probably  heard.  "Aye,  verily,"  replied  the 
maoristrate,  lookino^  down  with  a  thous^htful 
air,  "and  a  verv  bad  thincr  it  is  too.'^  "  There, 
I  agree  with  thee  perfectly,"  interposed  the 
traveller,  ''  and  now  I  am  truly  and  most  sanely 
possessed  with  the  belief,  friend  Bartus  Spoo- 
turken,  that  this  same  malady  hath  verily  en- 
tered mto  thy  portly  and  comely-looking  per- 
son, in  the  shape  of  one  spirit,  styled  commonly 
self-conceit,  or  a  boasting  and  lying  tongue, 
which  I,  Ephraim  Lowe,  '  that  bold  and  wicked 
man  whom  thou  didst  so  hard  press  in  the  tap- 
room of  one  Dame  Bonny,  and  whom  thou 
didst  promise  to  capture,  if  ever  thou  couldst 
come  within  arm's  length  of  him  again,'  would 
now  out  x)f  kindness  towards  thee,  drive  out  of 
thy  body,  even  as  the  monks  and  friars  of  old 
were  wont  to  do,  with  much  flagellation  and 
sti'ipes,  after  w^hich,  if  it  appeareth  meet  to 
thee,  I  will  journey  on  to  the  city  in  thy  com- 
pany, and  even  try  with  thee,  who  is  the  better 
man  at  trolling  of  a  stave."  *'What  sayest 
thou."  So  saying,  the  traveller,  (or  Ephraim 
Lowe,  as  we  shall  now  call  him,)  seized  the 
trembling  dignitary  by  the  arm,  and  commenced 
the  flagellation,  of  which  he  had  spoken.  It 
may  be  conceived  that  a  switching,  with  a  good 
hickory  stick,  handled  by  so  powerful  a  man 
as  the  Admiral,  was  no  joke,  and  the  corpulent 
magistrate  capered  romid  under  its  effect,  very 
much  like  a  delinquent  school-boy.  *'  Oh !  oh  ! 
oh!"  roared  the  magistrate,  each  oh  growing 
louder  than  its  neighbour,  while  his  capers  at 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  127 

the  same  time,  assumed  very  much  the  appear- 
ance of  youth.  "  Has  the  evil  spirit  yet  left 
thee,  sir  magistrate,  cried  the  Admiral — but  no" 
continued  he,  plying  the  switch  with  still  more 
vigour.  ^'  I  know  him  of  old,  to  be  a  hard  and 
stubborn  spirit."  ''  For  the  love  of  God  and 
St.  Nicholas,"  sputtered  the  blubbering  digni- 
tary, ''  have  mercy."  ''  Has  the  evil  spirit  left 
thee,  I  say  again,"  cried  the  Admiral.  ''  Mercy, 
mercy,  oh !  oh !  oh !"  ejaculated  the  valiant 
magistrate,  bringing  round  his  stumpy  arm  and 
clapping  his  hand  upon  the  injured  part,  while 
he  cut  such  outrageous  capers  as  to  make  even 
the  little  boy  who  had  guided  the  traveller, 
laugh  most  heartily.  Whack,  whack,  whack, 
the  strokes  resounded  along  the  little  valley, 
while  the  magistrate  cut  pirouettes,  minuettes, 
and  all  sorts  of  ets,  to  their  music.  "  Have 
pity,  sir  traveller,  have  pity,  I  am  a  Wall-man, 
one  for  whom  thou  didst  this  day  exert  thyself 
so  manfully."  ''  Aye,"  replied  the  Admiral, 
"  and  I  am  showing  my  farther  predilection  for 
thee,  by  this  present  exertion.  Has  the  evil 
spirit  yet  left  thee  '?"  continued  the  old  man 
smiling,  and  yet  applying  the  switch  vigorously 
to  the  burly  Schout's  seat  of  honour.  ^*  Yes, 
yes,  gone,  gone,"  sobbed,  the  worthy  man,  as  if 
his  magnanimous  heart  would  break  "  clean 
gone,  and  I  will  no  more  boast  of  taking  thee, 
an  thou  beest  Ephraim  Lowe,  or  the  devil." 
"  That  last  stroke  cleared  him  out  then,"  re- 
plied the  Admiral,  dealing  a  cut  of  more  than 
ordinary  vigour,  *'  and  now,  if  thou  thinkest, 
friend  Bartus,  he  is  fairly  gone,  why,  I  would 


128  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

fain  believe  thee  ^nd  let  thee  go,  for  I  would  not 
that  the  innocent  should  suffer.  The  flagella- 
tion, believe  me.  Mynheer  Spooturken,  was 
intended  for  the  evil  spirit,  thou  must  not  take 
it  at  all  to  thyself"  So  saying,  the  Admiral 
released  his  hold  and  threw  his  whip  into  the 
water,  then  turning  to  the  worthy  man,  who 
had. by  this  time  adjusted  his  dress,  which  had 
been  somewhat  deranged,  he  pleasantly  con- 
tinued, '*  An  thou  art  for  the  city  now,  friend 
Bartus ;  I  have  no  objections  to  accompany 
thee,  and  e'en  try  a  bout  at  the  song  of  which 
you  but  just  spoke.  Verily,  and  thou  usest 
thy  voice  as  well  as  thou  didst  thy  legs,  thou 
art  the  favourite  of  the  nine,  and  would  even 
bear  off*  the  palm."  ''  Nay,  sir  traveller,"  re- 
joined Bartus,  shuffling  off*  to  put  as  much  dis- 
tance between  himself  and  the  Admiral  as 
possible,  ''now  I  bethink  me,  I  have  busi- 
ness which  calls  me  on  another  way  to  a  friend's 
house."  The  Admiral  smiled,  and  proceeded 
onward  towards  the  city,  while  the  Hoofd 
Schout  pursued  another  route,  which  instead 
of  taking  him  to  a  friend's  house,  led  to  the 
western  gate  of  the  little  town.  Arrived  wdthin 
a  short  distance  of  the  city,  Lowe  turned  his 
steps  from  the  main  road  and  struck  into  a 
small  pathway,  which,  winding  among  the  scat- 
tered trees,  led  directly  to  that  collection  of  build- 
ings without  the  walls  called  the  Smith's  Vly. 
The  urchin,  vrhom  he  had  retained  by  his 
side,  soon  pointed  out  to  him  the  premises  of 
the  stout  smith,  with  whom  he  had  a  little  while 
before  contended  at  the  feat  of  the  hammer. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  129 

He  entered,  and  found  Wat  o'  the  sledge  al- 
ready plying  his  craft  with  great  industry,  de- 
termined probably  to  improve  as  much  of  the 
time  left  him  by  his  victor  as  possible.  For  a 
moment  the  smith  did  not  perceive  his  entrance, 
and  the  Admiral  stopt  to  admire  the  ingenuity 
and  strength  v^ith  which  he  waelded  his  pon- 
derous tools  to  perfect  some  nicety  of  art.  At 
length  as  he  looked  up  from  his  work  and  dis- 
covered the  Admiral,  a  cloud  lowered  over  his 
countenance. 

"  Well,  sir  Wintle,  you  are  come,"  said  he, 
sullenly,  "  to  claim  your  wager,  and  I  am  will- 
ing to  fulfil  it."  ^'  Not  so  fast,  not  so  fast,  good 
smith,"  replied  the  Admiral;  '*  for  on  certain 
conditions  only  will  I  claim  thy  services :  it 
was  a  foolish  wager,  and  rashly  made." 

"  Nevertheless,  I  am  ready  to  abide  by  my 
word,"  replied  he  o'  the  sledge,  but  will  li^^ten 
to  thy  conditions."  "  Are  you  married  ?"  tnen 
asked  the  Admiral.  '*  I  am,"  answered  Wat. 
'^Have  you  a  family?"  ''Two  girls  and  a 
boy,"  mournfully  replied  the  smith,  thinking  of 
the  destitute  situation  of  his  little  ones  if  his 
services  were  taken  from  them ;  ''  and  none  to 
provide  for  them  but  myself"  "  Then  am  I 
not  the  man  to  hold  thee  to  thy  wager,"  said 
the  Admiral.  ''  But  one  thing,  sir  smith,  I 
vi^ould  fain  crave  of  thee,  and  that  is,  should  I 
at  any  time  happen  to  be  hard  beset,  thou 
shalt  if  possible  render  me  thy  assistance ; 
farther  than  this  I  would,  not  of  thee,  for  I  too 
have  had  little  ones,  and  w^ot  full  well  of  their 
destitute  condition  when  death  has  robbed  them 


130  THE    BRIGANTINE  I   OR, 

of  a  mother,  and  left  them  to  the  sole  guidance 
of  a  father.  Promise  me  but  this,  and  keep 
tthy  labour  for  thy  little  ones."  "  That  will  I, 
sir  traveller,"  said  the  grateful  smith,  bounding 
forward  and  seizing  his  hand  ;  *'  and  it  shall 
go  hard  with  me  but  I  will  render  thee  assist- 
ance when  thou  callest  for  Wat  o'  the  Vly." 
The  Admiral  turned  to  leave  the  shop  but  found 
his  way  opposed  by  a  guard  of  soldiers. 

We  left  the  Hoofd  Schout  trudging  rapidly 
onward  towards  the  western  gate,  which  he 
soon  entered.  Proceeding  down  the  Broad- 
way, this  active  officer  directed  his  steps  to- 
wards the  fort  in  which  was  the  Governor's 
house.  With  this  dignatary  he  demanded  an 
interview,  and  related  to  the  Governor  the  fact 
that  Ephraim  Lowe  was  then  on  the  island. 
In  five  minutes  a  guard  of  soldiers  was  march- 
ing through  the  city  to  take  him.  They  pass- 
ed through  the  water  port,  and  on  to  the  smith's 
Vly,  whither  it  was  supposed  the  Admiral  had 
gone  to  claim  of  the  smith  his  forfeit. 

They  had  barely  arrived  at  the  smith's  shop 
when  the  Admiral,  as  we  have  seen,  had  turn- 
ed to  depart.  ''What,  ho!  my  jolly  men," 
said  he,  seizing  the  foremost  soldier  and  dash- 
ing him  on  one  side  ;  ''  make  way  there,  or  I 
make  it  for  myself"  So  saying,  he  wrenched 
a  musket  from  the  nearest  soldier,  and  charged 
directly  through  the  guard.  A  few  steps  brought 
him  to  the  boat  which  the  night  before  he  had 
taken  from  the  fort  Into  this  he  jumped,  and 
was  fairly  out  into  the  stream  ere  the  soldiers 
had    recovered  from   their    sudden    surprise. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  131 

They  too  jumped  into  a  boat  which  lay  near 
by,  but  Admiral  Lowe  in  his  own  boat,  was  a 
different  man  from  Admiral  Lowe  in  a  heavy 
Dutch  yawl ;  and  so  they  found  him,  for  the 
pursuit  was  soon  given  over 


CHAPTER    VI. 

As  the  Admiral  gaily  pulled  along  towards 
the  Buttermilk  Channel,  he  descried  three  large 
boats  making  for  the  same  passage.  At  first 
he  thought  that  his  retreat  had  been  cut  off, 
but  a  momentary  and  closer  observation  satis- 
fied him  that  the  boats  ahead  were  none  other 
than  those  of  La  Vincent  with  the  rescued  pri- 
soners. They  were  pulling  very  leisurely 
alonof,  and  with  a  little  additional  labour  he 
was  soon  enabled  to  come  up  with  them.  La 
Vincent  did  not  recognise  in  the  person  of  the 
coated  traveller  the  bold  Admiral  who  had 
once  rescued  him  from  the  jaws  of  death  ;  nor 
indeed  would  he  perhaps  have  noticed  him  at 
all  with  anything  more  than  a  passing  glance, 
had  not  his  attention  been  attracted  to  the  tra- 
veller's swift-moving  boat. 

''  Pull,  men,  pull,"  cried  the  young  English- 
man, "  or  a  single-handed  man  will  pass  you. 
Pull,  pull,"  cried  he,  ^  the  traveller  was  swift- 
ly surging  by.  They  did  pull,  and  manfully 
too  ;  but  notwithstanding  their  endeavours,  the 
stranger  passed,  and  lay  directly  a-head,  which 


132  THE  brigantine:   or, 

position  he  maintained  without  any  seeming 
exertion. 

*' Fairly  beaten,  fairly  beaten,  Captain  La 
Vincent,"  cried  the  stranger,  merrily,  at  the 
same  time  sheering  one  side  and  allowing  the 
boats  to  come  up,  when  he  extended  his  hand, 
w^hich  the  young  man  eagerly  grasped.  "  Ha  ! 
the  Admiral ! "  muttered  he  ;  ''  and  Elvellynne, 
Elvellynne!  how  is  she?"  then  changing  his 
voice  to  a  tone  of  fierce  defiance,  he  added, 
^'  Beware,  old  man,  how  you  injure  the  maid- 
en, for  I  have  an  account  to  settle  with  thee, 
which  can  only  be  balanced  in  blood." 

The  old  man  smiled,  and  rejoined,  in  a  calm 
tone  of  advice,  ''  You  are  young  yet,  young 
man,  and  know  not  with  whom  you  would  con- 
tend, and  I  should  decline  a  contest  in  which 
I  have  so  much  the  advantage  of  years, 
strength  and  practice;  but,  nevertheless," 
whispered  he,  "  be  at  the  old  anchorage  in  the 
little  bay  to-night  at  eight,  and  I  will  meet  you 
on  board  the  Merry  Christmas,  where  we  can 
settle  all  differences  in  a  milder  way,^  and  to 
your  much  better  satisfaction  "  Having  con- 
cluded, the  Admiral  shoved  off  and  disappear- 
ed round  the  point. 

The  word  coward  trembled  on  the  young 
man's  lips  as  the  Admiral  declined  a  hostile 
meeting,  but  he  suppressed  it,  as  the  thought 
flashed  across  his  mind,  that  the  one  he  was 
about  to  brand  with  this  debasing  epithet,  was 
far  from  cowardly,  and  that  to  his  bravery 
alone  he  had  once  owed  his  life.  He  remem- 
bered the  mysterious  interest  which  the  Ad  mi- 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  133 

ral  had  always  taken  in  him  and  his  affairs, 
and  knew  that  in  the  proposed  meeting  the  old 
man  could  mean  him  no  treachery.  The 
thought  too  that  he  might  perhaps  see  Elvel- 
lynne  again,  at  once  determined  him  to  go, 
and  buoyed  up  with  this  faint  hope,  he  passed 
an  anxious  day. 

As  the  day  slowly  declined  and  the  appoint- 
ed hour  of  the  meeting  approached,  La  Vincent 
arrayed  his  person  with  more  than  usual  care, 
paying  great  attention  to  even  the  minutiae  of 
his  dress,  • 

It  is  often  thus  that  man — vain,  foolish  man ! 
thinks  to  outdo  a  powerful  rival,  and  win  the 
object  of  his  affections  from  the  arms  of  another. 
It  is  a  great  mistake  among  men,  and  one,  too, 
often  adopted,  that  a  woman  is  to  be  won  upon 
by  a  fair  exterior,  and  that  a  handsome  boot,  a 
fine-setting  coat,  or  some  other  such  trifle,  is 
the  true  avenue  to  a  woman's  heart ! 

Such  a  woman,  if  there  were  such  an  one,  I 
would  not  have  for  my  chamber-maid.  It  is 
true  that  ladies  pay  a  great  attention  to  the  out- 
ward appearance  of  themselves,  and  even  judge 
of  others  of  their  own  sex,  by  an  exterior  crite- 
rion; but  believe  me,  ye  young  men,  and  old 
men  too,  who  are  about  entering  the  arena, 
that  if  this  be  the  bark  you  sail  in,  you  will 
surely  be  wrecked ! 

To  even  the  vainest  and  most  worldly  wo- 
man you  must  open  the  stores  of  your  mind — 
if  you  have  any — you  must  lay  at  her  feet  the 
lore  collected  through  a  life-time — ^you  must 
drag  from  the  dark  recesses  of  memory's  store- 
12 


134  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

house  the  treasures  of  by-gone  days — ^you  must 
burnish  up  the  rusty  weapons  of  wit's  armory, 
and,  more  than  all,  you  must  make  the  fair  one 
believe,  that  this  collection,  "odd  and  rare," 
was  all  gathered  for  her. 

If  you  are  blessed  with  that  power  of  which 
friend  Butler  speaks,  when  he  says  : — 

"  But  those  that  write  in  rhyme  still  make 
The  one  verse  for  the  other's  sake  ; 
For  one  for  sense,  and  one  for  rhyme, 
I  think  '%sufficient  at  one  time," 

by  all  means  woo  the  nine.  If  you  are  more 
hideous  than  e'er  was  Caliban,  it  is  a  portal 
through  which  you  will  find  certain  and  sure 
admittance,  notwithstanding  the  Tady's  asser- 
tion to  the  knight,  that 

**  She  that  with  poetry  is  won, 

Is  but  a  desk  to  write  upon ; 

And  what  men  say  of  her,  they  mean 

No  more  than  on  the  thing  they  lean." 

But  to  return  to  our  story. 

Perhaps  La  Vincent  was  labouring  under 
this  mistaken  idea,  when  he  paid  so  great  at- 
tention to  his  dress  and  person.  A  plain  black 
dress,  no  ornaments,  nice  boot,  &c.,  you  un- 
derstand, is  all  that  is  requisite. 

Confound  it,  how  we  yaw  about.  Certain 
it  is,  that,  as  the  bell  on  board  His  Majesty's 
Sloop'of-war,  Greyhound,  struck  seven  in  the 
second  dog-watch,  (or  half-past  seven  of  the 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  135 

clock,)  as  the  young  man  was  stepping  into 
the  boat  which  was  to  bear  him  to  the  inter- 
view, he  had  never  appeared  better. 

It  was  a  lovely  September  night ;  just  such 
an  one  as  a  man  in  love  delights  to  be  abroad 
in.  Many  contending  emotions  strove  for  the 
mastery  in  the  young  man's  breast,  as  he  sat 
wrapped  in  his  boat-cloak,  in  silence.  He 
thought  of  her  whom  he  had  loved,  now  torn 
from  him  by  a  ruthless  and  mysterious  hand, 
and  his  soul  kindled  against  the  perpetrator  of 
this  deed ;  but  as  his  boat  shot  around  the 
point  into  the  little  bay,  and  disclosed  to  him 
the  beautiful  Brigantine  silently  floating  at  her 
anchor,  he  looked  towards  the  cabin-windows, 
which  were  open,  and  thought  he  could  discover 
the  figure  of  Elvellynne  De  Montford  flitting 
backwards  and  forwards  by  it.  At  the  sight  of 
her,  whom  he  remembered  at  that  moment  only 
as  his  betrothed,  he  forgot  all  thoughts  of  ven- 
geance, all  thoughts  of  a  rival,  and  the  dominant 
feeling  was— pure,  silent,  unalloyed  love. 

,  At  this  instant,  the  first  sound  of  a  musical 
instrument  reached  his  ear,  and  he  command- 
ed the  men  to  cease  pulling.  It  swelled  and 
increased,  till  the  rambling  notes  settled  into  a 
distinct  and  beautiful  air,  and  he  at  once  recog- 
nized the  arch-lute  of  Elvellynne  De  Montford, 
The  maiden's  voice  presently  blended  with  the 
strain,  and  breathed  the  following  words — 
words  which  La  Vincent  himself  had  taught 
her,  but  a  week  before  their  unexpected  sepa- 
ratio^  :— 


136  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

Oh  !  ask  me  not  at  evening  hour 
Why  look  I  on  the  sea. 

And  pray  for  breezes  gently  fair 
To  waft  thee  on  to  me. 


The  moonbeam  tips  the  heaving  surge. 
The  sun  has  kissed  the  wave  ; 

Th«  zephyr  breathes  a  morning  diTge 
To  mouj-n  the  fair  and  brave. 


*Tis  then  I  look  upon  the  sky. 
And  scan  the  watery  main; 

O  blame  me  not,  if,  in  a  sigh» 
I  wish  thee  back  a«jain ! 


The  voice  ceased,  and  the  men,  with  a  few 
vigorous  strokes,  shot  the  boat  along- side  the 
Merry  Christmas.  La  Vincent  ascended  the 
side  and  v^as  met  by  the  Admiral,  who  con- 
ducted him  aft,  and  ushered  him  into  the  cabin. 
Elvellynne  was  still  holding  the  lute,  and.  as 
he  entered,  extended  to  him  her  hand  with  her 
old  welcome,  and  looking  more  beautiful  than 
ever. 

She  was  pressed  in  a  rich  brocade  'silk, 
with  raised  flowers,  and  the  dress,  which  was 
made  similar  to  the  one  in  which  we  first  saw 
her,  displayed  to  great  advantage,  as  she^rose 
to  meet  the  young  officer,  her  truly  graceful 
form. 

'^Welcome,  Charles,"  said  she,  with  a  win- 
ning smile,  ''and  a  hearty  welcome  to  you, 
and  now  sit  down,  for  since  I  have  become  a 
sailor,  I  aspire  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  berth, 
and  am  e'en  going  to  spin  you  a  yarn," 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  137 

It  was  Elvellynne  De  Montford  herself,  so 
like  her  witching  way  that  La  Vincent,  under 
the  impulse  of  the  moment,  clasped  her  to  his 
bosom,  as  in  former  days.  In  that  one  moment 
of  joy  he  had  forgotten  the  past  and  the  stern 
old  man  who  had  robbed  him  of  his  treasure, 
and  who  was  standing  by. 

The  Admiral,  seeing  how  affairs  stood,  cried, 
**  bravely  done,  young  man !  you  charge  well !  " 
and,  turning,  left  the  apartment. 

''  Now,  said  Elvellynne,"  gaily  leading  her 
lover  to  a  seat,  '*  dispel  that  gloom  on  your 
brow,  and  make  up  your  mind,  instead  of 
Admiral  Lowe,  to  settle  all  your  differences  with 
me." 

^*  But,  but,  gasped  La  Vincent — ^you  love 
him !  " 

''  Love  who  ?  "  asked  Elvellynne. 

''  Why  that,  that,  this  Admiral  Lowe,"  re- 
turned La  Vincent,  his  voice  almost  choked 
with  emotion. 

►  ''  Certainly  I  do,"  replied  the  gay  girl,  "  I 
love  him  better  than  myself!  (La  Vincent 
groaned,)  but  hear  me,"  continued  she,  seeing 
that  it  afflicted  her  lover,  and  divining  the 
cause,  "  I  love  him  I  said,  but  it  is  for  his  kind- 
ness and  care  over  you." 

The  young  man  breathed  freely,  and  she 
continued,  ''  I  told  you  that  I  claimed  the  pri- 
vileges of  a  sailor,  and  was  about  to  spin  you 
a  yarn,  now  listen,  and  I  will  unfold  to  you 
what  was  never  before  known  by  even  myself, 
until  revealed  to  me  by  my by  this  sin- 
gular man.  You  have  always  known  my  his- 
12^ 


138  THE  brigantine:  or, 

tory,  as  having  been  left  when  quite  young 
and  helpless,  at  the  house  of  him  who  has  ever 
heretofore  been  my  good  guardian,  Alderman 
Von  Brooter.  The  circumstances  of  my  en- 
tree into  his  family  with  quife  a  large  fortune, 
are  too  well  known  to  you  already,  to  require 
me  to  recur  to  them  again.  It  was  always  to 
me  a  reflection  causing  much  grief,  that  I  did 
not  know  my  lineage,  I  now  make  it  known 
to  you  as  it  has  been  substantiated  to  me  by 

by  Admiral  Lowe. 

''  Your  own  Elvellynne  De  Montford,  is  the 
daughter  of  that  good  and  much-injured  man, 
Edward  Hyde,  Earl  of  Clarendon,  whom  the 
wickedness  of  a  weak  and  silly  monarch, 
backed  by  the  machinations  of  a  debauched 
court,  has  driven  from  his  native  land,  and 
whose  history  I  have  so  often  heard  with  emo- 
tions of  sympathy  for  his  sufferings,  and  indig- 
nation at  his  persecutors,  little  dreaming  that 
while  I  was  mourning  the  exile  and  fate  of  a 
much-injured  and  virtuous  nobleman,  that  that* 
nobleman  was  my  father.  La  Vincent  looked 
upon  her  with  emotions  of  love,  tenderness, 
and  surprise."  He  had  loved  Elvellynne  De 
Montford  solely  and  purely  for  herself,  and 
when  a  lone  orphan,  without  birth,  and  her 
lineage  unknown,  he  had  bowed  down  before 
her,  and  offered  the  devotion  of  a  sincere  heart, 
laying  aside  all  prejudice,  and  resolved  to  have 
her  as  his  own.  He  now  had  his  reward;  her 
parentage  w^as  known,  and  she  claimed  as  her 
sire,  one  of  the  first  and  best  nobles  that  Eu- 
rope  contained.      ''  And  will    you,"   eagerly 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  139 

asked  La  Vincent,  fondly  taking  her  hand, 
**  will  you  still  love  me,  and  still  be  my  El- 
vellynne  ?"  The  maiden  blushed,  and  the  si- 
lence was  favourably  construed ;  the  contract 
was  ratified  on  board  the  brigaritine,  and  La 
Vincent  was  once  more  happy.  A  long  con- 
versation ensued,  and  La  Vincent  was  about 
asking  Elvellynne  to  solve  the  mystery  of  her 
connection  with  the  Admiral,  when  that  per- 
sonage entered  and  ended  the  interview. 

'*  Well,  young  man,"  said  he,  pleasantly  ac- 
costing La  Vincent,  and  offering  his  hand,  at 
the  same  time  glancing  knowingly  from  one 
to  the  other,  as  if  he  read  the  secret  of  their 
hearts,  "  did  I  not  say  well  in  appointing  a 
meeting  here  instead  of  on  the  beach  at  twelve 
paces  ?  What  think  you  of  the  arrangement, 
am  I  not  un  bon  general  d'une  armee  navale, 
eh  ?"  *'  You  are,  indeed,  sir,"  replied  La  Vin- 
cent, taking  the  proffered  hand,  "  and  I  am 
bound  to  ask  your  pardon  for  the  idle  threat 
which,  in  a  moment  of  passion,  escaped  my 
lips."  "  Pooh,  pooh,"  replied  the  Admiral, 
"never  mind  that,  never  mind  that,  but  sit 
down,  for  I  have  intelligence  from  England, 
which  you,  as  a  good  loyal  subject,  should 
wish  to  know."  La  Vincent  seated  himself  as 
requested,  and  the  old  man  commenced  upon 
the  politics  of  the  day. 

He  touched  upon  the  weak  and  licentious 
character  of  Charles  11. ,  and  attributed  all  the 
difficulties  of  England  originally  to  his  imbe- 
cility of  character.  He  dealt  with  the  mem- 
bers of  that  wicked  ministry,  "  the  cabal,"  in- 


140  THE  brigantine:  or,  '^^' 

dividually  and  severally,  holding  up  in  a  broad 
light,  the  bold,  insinuating,  untiring  eloquence 
of  the  Earl  of  Shaftsbury,  the  graceful  win- 
ning wit,  united  with  a  vacillating  caprice  v^^hich 
assiduously  bowed  to  interest ;  of  George  Vil- 
liers,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  the  ambitious  and 
revengeful  tyranny  of  Lauderdale,  the  impetu- 
ous headlong  art  of  Clifford,  and  the  brutish 
stupidity  of  Arlington,  He  laughed  at  their 
attempts  at  war,  mentioned  their  weakness 
v/ith  scorn,  and  held  up  their  deeds  as  a  fit 
subject  for  the  hatred,  contempt,  and  disgust 
of  posterity. 

As  he  proceeded,  the  Admiral  grew  eloquent, 
and  La  Vincent  thought  that  never  before  had 
he  listened  to  so  fine  a  strain  of  invective  ora- 
tory. The  old  man  unfolded  before  him,  the 
vast  acquisitions  of  a  powerful  mind,  and  re« 
tracing  the  events  of  a  century  back,  with  all 
the  familiarity  of  an  eye-witness,  held  before 
his  admiring  eyes,  the  weak  and  virtuous 
xourses  of  different  governments,  the  rise  and 
fall  of  empires,  with  the  causes ;  and  dissected 
analytically  the  characters  of  all  the  then  most 
^  prominent  men  of  the  old  world. 

La  Vincent  felt  that  it  w^as  truth  issuing  from 
a  giant  mind,  and,  notwithstanding  his  severe 
attack  upon  the  king,  was  conscious  that ''  facts 
are  stubborn  things/'  and  did  not  reply.  The 
Admiral  wound  up  by  apologizing  for  having^ 
monopolized  the  conversation,  and  then  related 
to  La  Vincent  the  policy  of  the  French  court, 
in  sending  over  to  the  imbecile  and  licentious 
Charles,  a  beautiful  woman  in  the  suite  of  th^ 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  141 

Dutchess  d'Orleans,  who,  as  intended,  had 
completely  captivated  him,  and  the  weak  mon- 
arch had  created  her  Dutchess  of  Portsmouth. 
'*  You  will  now,"  continued  he,  '*  have  no 
opportunity  of  transferring  laurels  from  the 
Frenchman's  brow  to  your  own,  for  rest  as- 
sured, that  Louis  XIV.  and  Charles,  whom  he 
has  made  his  tool,  will  now  go  hand  in  hand." 

The  old  man's  prediction  was  afterwards 
fulfilled  to  the  end,  for  the  new-created  dutchess 
retained  so  firm  power  over  the  king's  affections 
as  to  bind  him  securely  to  France,  while  Louis 
himself  condescended  as  a  matter  of  policy  to 
furnish  the  empty  coflfers  of  the  British  monarch 
with  means  to  carry  on  his  debauchery  and 
wickedness.  La  Vincent  w^as  astonished  at  the 
fact,  but  was  forced  to  believe  it,  as  coming 
from  the  mouth  of  one  who  seemed  so  conver- 
sant with  the  affairs  of  all  Europe.  He  looked 
upon  the  old  man  with  wonder,  and  sighed  as 
he  thought  to  what  heights  so  powerful  a  mind 
might  have  aspired,  had  its  efforts  been  direct- 
in  a  better  channel.  The  evening  passed 
swiftly  away,  and  ere  La  Vincent  thought  that 
he  had  been  aboard  the  brig  an  hour  the  bell 
struck  midnight.  He  thought  that  propriety 
urged  his  departure,  still  he  lingered  and  lin- 
gered, with  the  hope  that  an  opportunity  would 
oflfer  in  which  he  might  interrogate  Elvellynne 
something  farther  concerning  the  Admiral.  His 
curiosity  was  fairly  excited,  but  to  his  disap- 
pointment he  was  forced  to  leave  without  any 
satisfaction. 

*'  One   more   song,   Elvellynne,"    said   he^ 


"142  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

*'  before  I  go."  ''  One  more  !"  replied  she  ; 
'*  why  you  have  not  heard  one  yet."  ''  Ah  !  but 
I  have,"  rephed  La  Vincent,  *'  and  one  too 
which  I  taught  you  myself."  ''  Where,  when  ?" 
asked  Elvellynne.  ^*  On  the  passage  to  the 
brig,"  replied  he.  ''  But  come ;  time  wanes 
apace,"  said  La  Vincent,  placing  in  her  hand 
the  lute  ;  '^  and  to  make  the  charm  complete, 
it  must  be  sealed  with  music." 

Elvellynne  sang,  and  the  rich,  deep  voice  of 
the  Admiral  occasionally  chimed  in,  with  an 
execution  which  showed  him  to  be  a  master  of 
the  art,  and  which,  had  the  good  Hoofd  Schout 
heard,  would  have  blasted  alL  hopes  of  com- 
petition. 

At  length  La  Vincent  took  his  leave,  after 
obtaining  permission  to  renew  his  visit  on  the 
next  evening.  As  he  pulled  towards  his  own 
vessel,  lying  about  two  and  a  half  miles  dis- 
tant, his  mind  was  busy  with  the  strange  man 
whom  he  had  just  left.  He  was  a  mysterious 
man.  Commanding  a  light  brigantine,  and  at 
the  head  of  a  horde  of  pirates,  whom  he  ruled 
with  iron  sway,  he  yet  was  evidently  a  being 
of  superior  mould.  No  wonder,  thought  the 
young  man,  that  these  sea-robbers  have  be- 
come so  expert  and  dangerous,  and  succeed  in 
eluding  all  attempts  to  capture  them,  when 
they  have  a  man  of  such  wonderful  resources 
at  their  head. 

But  in  the  midst  of  his  reverie  an  unwel- 
come thought  intruded  itself  La  Vincent  was 
serving  under  a  commission  from  the  King, 
and  one  of  the  principal  duties  assigned  him 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  143 

had  been  to  clear  these  seas  of  the  marauders 
infesting  them.  He  had  been  most  of  the  time 
since  his  arrival  on  the  station  at  sea,  and  had 
succeeded  in  capturing  many  of  the  smaller 
vessels  belonging  to  these  free-traders,  and  one 
large  schooner,  off  the  western  islands,  com- 
manded by  one  Harris,  which  vessel  he  had 
despatched  home  to  England  as  a  prize,  under 
the  command  of  his  best  lieutenant,  with  a 
sufficient  crew  to  work  her.  From  this  vessel 
he  had  heard  nothing,  and  felt  greatly  alarmed 
lest  the  pirates  might  have  succeeded  in  free- 
ing themselves  from  confinement  and  have  re- 
taken the  schooner,  perhaps  murdering  the 
lieutenant,  with  the  few  hands  he  had,  and 
again  started  on  a  roaming  excursion  over  the 
wide  seas. 

He  had,  however,  succeeded  better  than  any 
of  his  predecessors  on  that  station,  and  though 
the  prizes  he  had  taken  were  small,  and  of  no 
great  consequence,  still  he  had  effected  so 
much,  that  the  Greyhound  had  become  a  ter- 
ror to  all  these  lawless  men,  and  they  had  de- 
termined to  collect  together  sufficient  of  their 
force,  and  destroy  the  cruiser  at  her  anchorage. 

The  unwelcome  thought  which  we  have  re- 
corded as  intruding  itself  so  untimely  upon 
him  was,  whether  he  ought  not  to  take  the 
brigantine.  She  was  a  piratical  vessel,  or  at 
least  commanded  by  the  head  chief,  if  not  em- 
ployed in  the  service  herself.  Still,  the  very 
man  for  whose  head  so  much  would 'have  been 
given,  was  somehow  strangely  connected  with 
Elvellynne  De  Montford,  and  consequently  in- 


144  THE  BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

timately  with  himself.  Besides  this  mysterious 
connection,  he  had  owed  his  life  once  to  this 
very  man ;  and  was  not  that  an  obligation 
upon  him  to  let  him  pass  unmolested  ?  No  ; 
he  was  bound  by  his  oath  to  serve  his  country 
and  extirpate  her  enemies  ;  and  certainly  these 
men,  from  their  leader  downwards,  were  all 
enemies  to  the  King  and  the  whole  world. 
But  thought  he,  as  he  gradually  became  en- 
twined in  this  maze  of  mind,  and  as  insinuatinof 
sophistry  began  to  assert  her  sway,  what  will 
become  of  El vellynne  ?  If  I  attack  this  brigan- 
tine,  her  commander  is  not  the  man  to  give  her 
up  without  a  struggle;  on  the  contrary,  he  will 
fight  like  a  devil ;  —  and,  and,  thought  the 
young  man,  what  if,  with  my  reduced  crew,  he 
should  turn  the  chance  of  war  and  conquer 
me  ?  "  But  during  the  conflict  what  will  be- 
come of  Elvellynne  ?"  muttered  he.  "  Per- 
haps in  his  madness  (for  he  is  a  man  of  fierce 
passion,  thought  La  Vincent)  he  may  blow  up 
his  vessel,  rather  than  be  taken,  and  with  her, 
O  God,  Elvellynne  too  !"  He  shuddered  at  the 
very  idea ;  and  before  he  slept  that  night,  had 
concluded  that  his  reduced  crew,  and  the  ab- 
sence of  those  officers  who  were  on  board  of 
the  prize,  would  warrant  his  not  meddling  with 
the  rover. 

O  Sophistry !  thou  art  truly  most  conve- 
nient !  Had  La  Vincent  been  diflferently  cir- 
cumstanced, or  had  he  met  the  pirate  on  the 
open  sea,  even  with  half  his  present  crew,  how 
quickly  would  the  decks  have  been  cleared  for 
action  !    How  quickly  would  the  merry  shouts 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  145 

of  the  seaman  have  been  heard  ringing  a  death- 
knell  to  the  enemy !  and  how  fierce  would  have 
been  the  contest !  But  Love,  that  mischievous 
urchin,  was  at  work,  and  without  arms  or  wea- 
pons conquered  all.  The  young  Captain  was 
however  in  a  serious  difficulty,  balanced  be- 
tween love,  duty,  and  honour;  but  coming 
events,  of  which  he  knew  little,  soon  relieved 
him  from  the  dilemma.  He  retired  that  night 
with  a  light  heart,  and  buried  all  the  unplea- 
sant reflections  which  had  just  engaged  his 
mind,  in  the  more  strenuous  yet  tender  con- 
templation of  Elvellynne  De  Montford.  To 
what  scenes  he  awoke  on  the  morrow,  the 
sequel  will  disclose. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

During  the  time  while  La  Vincent  was  on 
board  the  brigantine,  there  was  gathered  toge- 
ther in  the  dame's  little  tap-room  quite  £?  num- 
ber of  people,  who  all  seemed  conversing  in 
pairs  about  some  important  and  very  exciting 
subject.  The  assemblage  numbered  perhaps 
a  dozen  people,  among  whom  were  the  jolly 
miller,  the  stout  smith,  and  the  worthy  Hoofd 
Schout. 

Paulus  Spleutcher,  who,  be  it  remembered, 
was  now  serving  the  A^drpiral,  was  also  there, 
being  on  shore  on  some  duty  for  Elvellynne  ; 
13 


146  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   ORj 

but  to  avoid  all  suspicion  as  to  the  new  busi- 
ness he  had  engaged  in,  Paul  very  obligingly 
vraited  upon  all  vv^ho  called,  and  did  the  hon- 
ours of  the  tap-  room  as  much  to  the  customers' 
satisfaction  as  if  he  was  still  serving  Dame 
Bonny  in  the  capacity  of  tapster.  One  little 
squad  of  talkers  analyzed  the  bold  action  of 
the  young  Briton  in  rescuing  his  four  men  in 
the  morning  at  the  very  foot  of  the  gallows. 
Another  party  was  talking  over  the  general 
affairs  of  the  colony,  while  a  third,  and  that  to 
vi^hich  we  would  call  the  attention  of  the  read- 
er, was  conversing  in  a  low  under  tone  of  voice, 
as  if  unwilling  that  the  important  secrets  dis- 
cussed should  transpire.  The  little  group  was 
composed  of  Rob  o'  the  mill,  Wat  o'  the  sledge, 
Bartus  Spooturken,  the  Hoofd  Scbout,  and  his 
shadow,  our  friend  the  toad-eater,  Mynheer 
Brevoort.  The  Hoofd  Schout  at  the  time  we 
treat  of,  was  speaking.  ''  Ha,"  said  he,  slapping 
.0  the  brawny  smith,  on  the  shoulder,  "  friend 
Wat,  that  was  a  brave  throw  you  made  to- 
day, and  almost  a  better  than  I  myself  could 
have  done  a  score  of  years  back,  though  I 
would#even  have  tried  thee  at  heave,  run,  or 
jump  ;  but  wot  ye  who  it  was  that  cast  against 
you  and  w^on  the  daj^  ?  " 

The  smith,  who  felt  grateful  to  the  traveller 
for  not  taking  advantage  of  the  wager  which 
he  had  won,  and  reflecting  for  a  moment 
whether  he  ought  to  tell  as  much  as  he  knew, 
after  a  moment's  thoughtful  consideration,  re- 
plied, ^' Wot  I  who  it  was  that  cast  against 
me,  do  you  ask,  frienS  Hoofd  Schout?  why, 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  147 

certainly,  a  man  of  such  mettle  as  he  must 
needs  be  known,  'twas  the  traveller,  or  Willy 
Wintle,  as  he  styled  himself,  and  a  right  brave 
man  too.''  ''  Aye,  aye,"  interposed  Bartus, 
impatient  to  disclose  the  great  secret  with 
which  he  was  charged,  and  feeling  his  dignity 
and  importance  to  be  on  the  increase :  ''  Aye, 
aye,  'twas  the  traveller,  and  Willy  Wintle,  if 
you  please  ;  but  who  is  Willy  Wintle  ?  that  is 
the  question,  gentlemen,"  said  the  dignified 
magistrate,  throwing  back  his  head  and  draw- 
ing in  his  chin  with  a  very  imposing  air,  very 
much  like  a  tarkey-cock  with  a  spread  tail. 
^'  Aye,"  said  he,  with  a  noble  waive  of  the 
hand,  ^^  who  is  this  Willy  Wintle,  gentlemen? 
that  is  the  question  ;"  then  lowering  his  voice, 
he  said,  in  a  confidential  way,  to  impress  his 
hearers  with  the  importance  of  the  great  secret 
which  he  was  about  to  reveal,  *'  I  will  tell  you, 
gentlemen,  he  is  no  more  nor  less  than  that 
wicked  man,  that  scourge  of  the  ocean,  that 
outlaw,  Ephraim  Lowe,  chief  commander  of 
those  bands  of  pirates  which  infest  this  coast, 
and  whom  I  this  day  very  nearly  captured." 

''  Thou  liest,"  cried  an  unknown  voice, 
which  made  the  magistrate  start  and  look 
around,  but  seeing  no  one  in  the  room  bearing 
the  resemblance  of  mighty  Ephraim,  he  con- 
tinued :  "  Gentlemen,  you  know  in  our  official 
capacity  that  we  meet  with  a  great  deal 
of  intelligence  that  you  good  citizens  never 
hear,  and  are  obliged  to  brave  a  great  many 
dangers" — ^here  the  little  man  again  drew  him- 
self up,  placing  his  hand  on  his  round  corpora- 


148  THE  brigantine:  or, 

tion,  '^  which  would  make  a  man  of  even  much 
nerve  quake  ;  but  we  soon  get  accustomed  to 
these  things  and  forget  fear." 

**  Remember  the  bridge  and  the  traveller," 
again  cried  the  secret  voice.  The  magistrate 
now  looked  around  evidently  alarmed,  but 
thinking  that  some  one  was  trying  to  put  upon 
him,  a  joke,  he  again  summoned  up  courage 
and  proceeded :  '*  These  are  stirring  times, 
gentlemen,  very  stirring  times,"  and  he  shook 
his  head  very  portentously  \  "  bad  news  in  the 
wind,  bad  news.  I  think  King  Charles  should 
keep  a  cruiser  or  two  here,  besides  the  one  he 
-has,  and  the  home  government  should  make 
this  a  station.  Bad  times,  stirring  times.  Myn- 
heer Brevoort." 

Now  the  good  man  only  threw  out  these 
suggestions  to  excite  the  curiosity  of  his  audi- 
tors, knowing  fult  well  that  they,  as  well  as 
the  r^st  of  mankind,  were  possessed  with  a 
sufficient  share  of  this  commodity,  which  once 
so  puzzled  our  common  mother,  and  being  well 
aware  too  that  they  knew  nothing  of  the  facts 
which  he  was  about  to  tell  them.  He  thought 
too  that  double  importance  would  be  attached 
to  the  secret  if  it  was  not  so  easily  come  by, 
and  that  a  little  suing  would  be  advantageous 
to  his  dignity,  and  make  him  appear  the  better, 
while  at  the  same  time  it  would  add  something 
of  a  relish  to  the  secret.  He  was  at  least  right 
in  one  respect,  for  no  sooner  had  he  thrown 
out  the  above  hints  that  he  knew  something 
which  nobody  else  knew,  than  Mynheer  Bre- 
voort attacked  him  with  questions. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  149 

'*  Aye,  bad  times  enough,  for  the  hogs  (may 
St.  Nicholas  curse  them)  got  into  my  cabbage- 
garden  and  munched  up  half  my  beautiful  cab- 
bages, run  over  the  kale,  and  mein  vroeuw  is 
almost  out  of  salmagundi.  Yes,  yes,"  said  the 
good  burgher,  immersing  his  hands  in  his  ca- 
pacious pockets,  and  looking  round  very  wise- 
ly:  "yes,  bad  times  enough,  friend.  Hoofd 
Schout." 

''  Poh,  poh,"  replied  Bartus,  vexed  at  his 
neighbour's  dullness,  and  that  his  project  should 
only  have  set  one  of  his  hearers  to  rummaging 
about  among  his  stinking  fish  and  rotten  cab- 
bages, while  the  other  two  had  engaged  in  a 
little  private  gossip  of  their  own.  "  Poh,  poh, 
Mynheer  Brevoort,  you  don't  understand  me  ; 
the  interests  of  the  country  are  at  stake — the  vi- 
tal interests  of  the  country  are  at  great  hazard, 
and  so  you  will  perhaps  very  soon  find  out, 
when  your  house  is  burning  about  your  ears, 
your  property  pillaged,  and  your  family  mur- 
dered before  your  eyes."  This  bold  sally  of 
the  valorous  Hoofd  Schout  brought,  as  he  had 
expected,  his  two  other  auditors  back  to  their 
allegiance,  as  well  as  a  more  direct  question 
from  his  dull  friend. 

''  Murdered,  your  family,  pillaged,  eyes," 
repeated  the  burgher  in  astonishment,  his  capa- 
cities of  mind  either  not  being  able  to  take  in, 
or  his  Dutch  tongue  riot  being  able  to  give 'out, 
all  that  Mynheer  Spooturken  had  said.  "  What 
mean  you,  Mynheer  Spooturken?" 

"  Why,  Mynheer  Brevoort,  just  precisely 
what  I  said,  that  the  country  is  in  great  dan- 
13^ 


150  THE  brigantine:  or, 

ger,  and  we  all  likely  to  be  murdered  in  our 
beds,  perhaps  this  very  night." — *'  Then  I 
shan't  go  to  bed  for  one,"  muttered  the  burgher. 
"  But  what  is  the  news,  Mynheer  Spoot- 
urken  ?"  asked  Wat  o'  the  sledge,  seeing  that 
the  sheriff  really  had  something  to  disclose ; 
'^  what  is  it,  man  ?"  "  Ah,  friend  smith,"  an- 
swered Bartus;  now  beginning  to  feel  that  he 
had  excited  an  interest,  which  he  inwardly 
determined  not  to  satisfy  too  rashly.  "  Bad 
enough  news  ;  news  which  I  have  thought  fit 
in  my  official  capacity  to  make  known  to  the 
governor,  and  there  will  be  a  stir  I  can  assure  ye. 
It's  a  great  deal  of  news  that  we  gentlemen  of 
the  staff  fall  in  with  in  one  way  and  another ; 
and  I  may  thank  my  suspicions  for  having  de- 
tected the  fact.  It  is  a  happy  thing  for  the 
city  of  Nieuw  Orange  that  it  was  discovered' 
in  time  to  avert  the  calamity.  0,  if  I  was  only  as 
well  versed  in  naval  tactics,  as  in  my  own 
official  sphere,  and  had  a  good  seventy-four 
under  ine  at  my  command,  what  work  I'd 
make  with  the  rascals  ;  yes,  Td  extirpate  them, 
cut  them  off,  root  and  branch,  from  the  oldest 
to  the  youngest,  man,  woman,  and  child ;  aye, 
the  children  particularly,  for  then  there  would 
be  no  more  of  this  wicked  generation  to  grow 
up,  and  the  old  ones  would  soon  die  off. 
That's  my  policy,  gentlemen,  and  if  the  home 
government  would  only  adopt  my  views  on  the 
subject,  and  give  me  an  armed  force,  I  would 
soon  do  the  business,  I  can  assure  ye," 
said  the  brave  magistrate,  looking  around  for 
admiring  faces."     "  Remember  the  bridge  and 


.^  ADMIRAL    LOWE.  151 

the  evil  spirit,"  again  cried  the  unknown  voice 
in  a  tone  of  warning. 

The .  repetition  of  this  warning  sound  pro- 
duced upon  the  magistrate  a  salutary  effect 
this  time  ;  for  he  now  began  to  consider  the 
matter  a  joke  no  longer,  so  lowering  his  voice, 
and  having  peered  cautiously  around  to  ascer- 
tain if  there  were  any  indications  of  immediate 
danger,  he  proceeded  to  unfold  his  tedious 
secret.  "  You  must  know,  gentlemen,  that  in 
the  course  of  my  arduous  duties,  I  have  for  a 
long  time  had  my  suspicions  as  to  certain  mat- 
ters, and  this  morning  after  the  memorable 
feats  and  rescue  of  the  spies,  I  started  very 
quietly  for  home,  having  delayed  a  little  to 
speak  with  Mistress  Muzzy  about  certain 
business  which  somewhat  retarded  my  mo- 
tions behind  the  others.  Now,  I  had  proceed- 
ed so  far  as  Bridden's  bridge,  when  I  heard  a 
voice  behind  me,  trolling  a  stave  or  two  of  a 
little  song  which  I  had  composed  some  years 
agone,  (the  worthy  sheriff  could'nt  spell  his 
name,)  and  curiosity  incited  me  to  tarry  on  the 
bridge  a  little  till  the  singer  should  come  up, 
that  I  might  see  who  it  was  that  had  caught 
from  me  my  little  ditty.  I  had  not  stood  long 
on  the  bridge,  when  who  should  come  up  in 
sight  but  the  traveller,  this  very  Willy  Wintle, 
who  to  say  the  truth,  is  even  a  man  of  good 
parts.  Well  gentlemen,  it  happened  that  I  re- 
cognized him  at  close  sight  as  the  very 
Ephraim  Lowe,  whom  I  was  once  so  near 
taking  in  this  very  room,  but  for  an  unfor- 
tunate slip  of  my  foot. 


152  THE  brigantine:  or. 


"  Well  neighbours,  for  you  see  I  was  at  first 
fearful,  no  not  fearful,  but  apprehensive,  that 
this  Lowe,  knowing  my  official  capacity,  shall 
avoid  me,  and  take  to  his  heels,  though  a 
score  of  years  back  that  would  not  have  saved 
him,"  interposed  the  worthy  man  looking 
mournfully  down  at  his  protruding  beer  bar- 
rel. ""  But  Uke  all  great  sinners,  gentlemen,  he 
was  possessed  with  the  spirit  of  folly,  and 
came  right  on,  whereupon  so  soon  as  he  was 
within  reach,  I  laid  hands  on  him,  and  we  had 
a  tussle,  but  after  a  while  he  being  the  stronger 
man  by  a  very  little,  succeeded  in  getting  free, 
and  fled  beyond  my  reach.  He,  however, 
swore  to  be  revenged,  and  to  tear  down  the 
whole  city  of  Orange,  and  furthermore  hinted, 
that  his  forces  were  now  on  their  way  hither. 
I  saw  it  was  useless  to  pursue  the  rascal,  and 
so  giving  that  up,  I  straightway  hied  me  to  the 
governor,  and  disclosed  to  him  the  very  im- 
portant intelligence,  that  the  pirates  with  all 
their  forces  were  coming  down  upon  the  city 
ere  long  to  sack  and  destroy.  So  like  a  good 
governor  he  has  e'en  doubled  the  guard,  and 
ordered  all  the  muskets  burnished  up. 

"  There,  fellow-citizens,  you  have  the  whole 
of  the  terrible  intelligence,  and  all  I  have  to 
say  is,  that  it  becomes  us  all  to  act  like  brave 
men  in  the  coming  emergency.  For  my  part, 
I  much  regret  that  important  business  takes 
me  to  Albania  on  the  morrow  morning,  which 
will  prevent  my  taking  my  part  in  the  defence, 
and  as  my  family  will  be  without  their  head 
and  chief  support,  I  shall  take  them  with  me  ; 


^  ADMIRAL    LOWE.  153 

for  what  would  they  do  if  the  enemy  should 
succeed  in  entering  the  city  and  I  gone." 

At  this  moment  the  urchin  who  had  guided 
the  Admiral  in  the  morning,  and  who  had  also 
been  present  at  the  scene  on  Bridden's  bridge, 
which  the  magistrate  had  so  strangely  mis- 
represented, entered  the  little  tap- room.  At 
sight  of  the  boy,  the  magistrate  was  taken 
with  an  uncommon  and  sudden  hurry,  saying, 
''  that  he  had  been  so  much  interested  in  the 
affairs  of  the  colony,  that  he  had  forgotten' 
himself,  and  overstaid  his  time  ;  then  pulling 
out  an  old  English  bull's-eye  watch,  and 
knowingly  looking  at  it,  (the  watch  had  no 
works,)  he  hurried  off  with  the  expressed  in- 
tention of  making  ready  for  the  morrow's  journey 
to  Albania.  The  fact  that  the  pirates  were 
about  swarming  towards  the  city,  as  Mynheer 
Spooturken  had  related,  was  actually  true,  but 
as  to  his  being  the  discoverer,  that  was  another 
thing.  The  good  man  was  accustomed  to 
allow  himself  a  pretty  wide  latitude,  as  the 
reader  has  already  perceived,  and  from  often- 
times relating  the  same  thing,  at  last  gave  cre- 
dence to  it  himself 

Now  the  truth  about  the  story  was  this. 
"  Some  fishermen  who  had  been  taking  fish 
along  the  Jersey  shore,  were  returning  to  the 
city  when  a  schooner  ran  in  and  anchored.  She 
sent  a  boat  to  the  fishermen,  to  bargain  for 
some  of  their  scaly  wealth,  but  not  agreeing 
as  to  the  price,  the  schooner's  boat  very  civilly 
took  the  fish,  paid  them  nothmg,  and  kindly 
wished  them  to  the  devil.     There  were  four 


154  THE   BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

more  vessels  then  standing  in  in  the  offing,  and 
the  frighted  fishermen  seeing  this  occasion  of 
strength,  and  overhearing  some  conversation, 
v^hich  convinced  them  that  these  vessels  were 
a  part  of  Ephraim  Lov^e's  fleet,  made  the  best 
of  their  way  to  the  city,  and  informed  the 
governor  of  the  facts.  It  happened  that  while 
the  fishermen  were  giving  this  information  to 
the  governor,  Bartus  Spooturken  made  his 
appearance,  also  big  with  news,  fresh  from  the 
Admiral's  hands,  and  it  was  while  waiting  for 
an  audience  that  he  had  overheard  the  fisher- 
men's narration,  and  determined  to  appropriate 
it  to  himself,  which  we  have  just  seen  him  doing 
so  well. 

As  the  good  man  was  proceeding  homewards 
along  the  Here-Graft,  and  ruminating  upon  the 
occurrences  of  the  day,  while  he  looked  for- 
ward with  dread,  to  the  portentous  to-morrow, 
his  course  was  suddenly  arrested  at  a  lonely 
part  of  the  street,  by  a  person  holding  to  his 
head  the  shining  barrel  of  an  ugly-looking  pis- 
tol, and  a  voice  which  he  immediately  recog- 
nised as  the  secret  voice  which  had  been  taunt- 
ing him  all  the  evening,  ordering  him  to  follow 
and  keep  silence,  as  he  valued  his  life,  '*  Oh, 
oh,  don't,  don't  kill  me,"  cried  the  valiant  man, 
^'  of  a  score  years  back,"faUing  on  his  knees  and 
emptying  his  pockets  of  sundry  half  stivers, 
pieces  of  sea-want  and  old  keys  ;  ''  don't  kill  me, 
think  of  my  poor  wife  and  ten  children,  (he 
had  but  one)  and  I  will  give  you  all  I  have 
about  me."  ''  Rise,"  said  he  of  the  pistol, ''  and 
follow  me  in  silence.      Put  up  your  drivelling 


ADMIRAL   LOWE.  155 

half-pence  and  don't  lie,  within  an  inch  of  eter- 
nity, you  have  but  one  child,  as  you  well 
know."  ''  Oh,  oh,  oh,"  groaned  the  magistrate, 
as  he  followed  the  robber  in  silence,  with 
faltering  steps,  convinced  that  the  pirates  were 
already  in  the  city,  and  wishing  that  he  had 
not  delayed  his  journey  till  the  morrow,  but 
have  started  at  the  first  intelligence  of  the  in- 
tended eruption.  *'  Silence,"  said  the  robber; 
in  a  stern  voice,  aS;  through  great  bodily  fear, 
Bartus's  oh's  were  waxing  strong  and  too  loud 
for  safety,  ''Silence,  you  fool,  or  I  will  let  day- 
light through  your  thick  cowardly  skull,"  at  the 
same  time  he  presented  the  before-mentioned 
shining  barrel,  most  unpleasantly  near  to  Bar- 
tus'ss  pericranium,  while  an  ominous  clicking 
of  the  lock  told  the  good  man  he  had  nothing 
to  do  but  place  implicit  confidence  in  his  way- 
ward and  somewhat  capricious  guide  and  do 
his  bidding. 

The  robber  led  the  way  to  the  Water  Poort, 
which  opened  upon  the  Smith's  Vly,  and  having 
first  cautioned  the  sherijff  against  attempting  to 
give  any  alarm,  as  they  passed  through,  strode 
under  the  portal  and  took  his  way  along  the 
water.  He  proceeded  in  silence,  following  the 
beach  for  a  half-mile,  crossing  several  water- 
courses in  the  way,  till  at  last  he  arrived  with 
his  prisoner,  in  front  of  an  old  dilapidated  hut, 
which  for  years  had  been  uninhabited,  but 
which  now  seemed  to  be  tenanted,  as  the  lights 
streaming  through  the  chinks  and  cracks,  and 
the  sound  of  voices  from  within  indicated. 
The  robber  threw  open  the  door  and  bade  his 


156  THE    BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

prisoner  enter.  Around  a  table  on  which  stood 
several  bottles  and  drinking  vessels,  sat  three 
seamen,  drinking,  smoking,  laughing,  singing, 
and  playng  at  some  sea-game  by  turns.  They 
all  looked  up  and  laid  hands  on  their  weapons, 
(which  also  were  lying  on  the  table)  as  the 
door  was  suddenly  thrust  open,  but  seeing  who 
the  intruder  w^as,  they  set  up  a  merry  laugh, 
and  each  one  running  towards  the  Schout, 
seized  an  arm  or  a  leg.  '^  Come  Jacques,"  cried 
one,  ''  lay  hold,  lay  hold,  let's  bump  him." 
Jacques,  (for  it  was  no  other  than  he  with  the 
three  who  had  been  takeii,  together  with  the 
the  Admiral's  boat  on  the  night  of  the  escape,) 
did  as  requested,  and  forthwith  the  four,  each 
having  respectively  a  limb,  commenced  swing- 
ing the  corpulent  magistrate,  back  and  forth, 
before  a  beer  cask.  At  every  third  swing, 
when  the  body  had  gathered  sufficient  mo- 
mentum, they  launched  it  directly  against  the 
head  of  the.  beer  cask ;  the  good  man's  fat  seat 
of  honour,  coming  directly  in  contact  with  the 
hard  white  oak  head.  At  every  successful 
bump,  which  elicited  a  more  than  usual  groan 
from  the  Schout,  some  one  or  other  of  the 
seamen  would  make  some  remark.  *'  There," 
said  Long  Bill,,  w^ho  was  sweating  profusely, 
partly  from  exertion,  and  partly  from  laughter, 
"  there,  that  fetches  him  '  chock-a-block,'  to 
it  again,  my  hearties,  one,  two,  three,  oye  ho  !" 
"Huzza,"  shouted  Mike,  as  a  vigorous  bump 
knocked  in  the  head  of  the  cask,  ''  set  it  up 
an  end,  boys,  and  clap  old  Dutchy  in  it,  while 
we  chock  him  up  with  dirt."     Accordingly  the 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  157  . 

barrel  was  set  up  on  one  end,  with  the  mouth 
upwards,  and  into  it,  the  four  merry  seamen 
crammed  the  luckless  Schout,  who  was  all  the 
while  shouting  for  mercy,  and  kicking  most 
lustily.  Having  stowed  the  bulky  magistrate 
snugly  in  the  cask  and  filled  up  the  space  all 
around  him  with  loose  earth,  which  they  pack- 
ed down  tightly,  just  leaving  his  round  head 
peeping  over  the  rim,  the  laughing  sailors 
rolled  him  up  in  one  corner  and  sat  down  again 
by  the  table,  to  resume  their  pastime,  which 
had  been  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  their 
shipmate,  with  the  prisoner. 

''  I  say,  Bill/'  cried  one,  '^  what  shall  we  do 
with  old  Dutchy,  eh  ?  He's  fat  enough  to  make 
good  pork,  suppose  we  cut  his  wizzen,  and 
barrel  him  up,  then  send  him  to  the  city  and 
make  a  handsome  spec  on  '  prime  mess  pork.^ " 
*^  No,  no,"  answered  Bill,  "  let's  cut  him  up 
and  have  some  *  fresh '  now,  who'll  have  a 
piece  shipmates  ?"  cried  the  long  seaman,  ad- 
vancing to  the  corner  where  stood  the  cask, 
whetting  his  knife  on  his  rough  hand,  and 
winding  his  long  bony  fingers  in  the  prisoner's 
hair,  as  if  about  really  to  cut  his  throat, ''  who'll 
have  a  piece,  who'll  have  a  piece,  shippy's,  eh  ?" 
All  this  while  the  other  seamen  sat  at  the  ta- 
ble laughing  and  roaring  at  the  odd  faces  and 
outrageous  cries  of  the  poor  affrighted  Schout, 
who  really  thought  that  these  rude  men  were 
about  to  perform  the  preposterous  plans  sug- 
gested. He  knew  that  the  pirates  were  men 
inured  alike  to  strife  and  blood,  and  had  heard 
of  many  instances,  where  the  most  diaboli* 
V4t 


158  THE    BRIGANTINE  t    OR, 

cal  cruelty  had  been  practised  upon  innocent 
prisoners,  without  any  provocation,  but  merely 
as  a  pastime,  and  he  believed  himself  to  have 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  such,  little  dreaming 
that  these  were  only  merry  rogues.  As  the 
long  seaman  approached  him  with  a  drawn 
knife,  he  screamed  in  all  the  agony  of  expect- 
ing death,  but  when  Long  Bill  seized  him  by 
the  hair,  and  threw  back  his  head,  as  if  to  have  a 
fair  sweep  at  his  throat,  the  exhausted  Schout 
swooned  ;  the  anxiety  and  fear  had  been  too 
much  for  him.  A  vessel  of  water  from  the 
Salt  rivier,  dashed  on  his  head,  and  a  little 
hoUands  soon  restored  him. 

The  revellers  now  sat  them  down  to  the 
table  again,  and  Jacques  recounted  to  them  the 
scene  at  Dame  Bonny 's,  together  with  the  con- 
versation which  took  place  between  the  Hoofd 
Schout,  or  old  Dutchy,  as  he  styled  him  and 
the  other  three,  which  conversation  the  reader 
has  personally  witnessed  already.  They  were 
much  pleased  with  the  trick  of  the  secret  voice, 
which,  with  its  effects,  Jacques  depicted  in  glow- 
ing colours,  but  when  he  came  to  that  part  of 
the  conversation  where  the  sheriff  had  spoken 
of  his  running  abilities,  and  told  how  he  would 
have  taken  Admiral  Lowe,  if  he  had  only  been 
able  to  command  his  feet  as  he  was  wont  to  do 
in  *'  days  of  yore,"  Long  Bill,  who  was  a  very 
devil  for  sport,  started  up,  upset  the  cask,  roll- 
ed out  the  stumpy  dignitary,  and  insisted  upon 
his  taking  a  bout  at  "  Skip-Jack"  with  him. 
Seizing  hold  of  Mynheer  Spooturken's  hands, 
the  jolly  tar^commenced  wheeling  round  and 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  159 

round  with  great  velocity,  while  the  poor  ma- 
gistrate was  constrained  to  move ,  his  short 
limbs,  too,  to  keep  pace  with  his  mischievous 
tormentor,  as  well  as  to  keep  his  balance. 
^'  Hoh,  damn,  your  blinkers,  old  Ducthy,"  said 
Long  Bill,  relinquishing  his  grasp,  "you  don't 
keep  time,  now  foot  it  alone  old  boy,  go  it," 
cried  he,  pricking  up  the  Schout  with  the  point 
of  his  knife,  till  the  corpulent  Bartus  danced 
away  with  such  vigour  that  the  sweat  rolled 
down  his  fat,  greasy  cheeks,  in  huge  drops,  and 
his  face  looked  like  a  red  flannel  shirt.  I3uring 
this  exhibition  of  the  magistrate's  skill,  the 
four  merry  sailors  stood  by,  almost  convulsed 
with  laughter.  One  while  urging  Bartus  on 
to  superior  exertion,  and  applauding  any  suc- 
cessful eflbrt,  and  then  again  punching  him  up 
with  sticks  when  his  ambition  flagged,  and 
pricking  up  his  relaxing  strength  with  the 
points  of  their  knives.  At  length  satisfied 
with  the  Schout's  contribution  to  their  amuse- 
ment, and  wearying  themselves  of  the  sport, 
the  seamen  returned  to  the  table,  bringing  with 
them  the  prisoner.  Here  he  was  made  to  drink 
the  health  of  each  individual  present,  in  a 
bumper  of  Hollands,  which  as  he  afterwards, 
himself  said,  he  thought  even  superior  to  the 
Dame's  much  vaunted  liquors.  Then  the  mer- 
ry men  hoisted  the  little  rotund  person  of  the 
Sheriff*  upon  the  table,  and  insisted  upon  a 
speech  in  which  he  should  "  tell  a  lie  as  big  as 
a  barn,"  and  recount  to  them  the  true  circum- 
stances of  his  meeting  with  the  Admiral  and 
the  delectable  little  thrashing  which  he  receiv- 


160  THE  brigantine:  or, 

ed  at  their  commander's  hands.  This  the 
Schout  did,  and  thinking  that  his  captors  were 
well  acquainted  with  the  facts  from  their  lead- 
er, he  for  once  in  his  life  adhered  to  the  truth. 
His  speech  met  with  great  applause,  and  for 
fear  the  honest  man  might  take  cold  after  his 
exertion,  the  four  merry  men  had  him  down  on 
the  floor  again,  to  perform  another  set  of  pirou- 
ettes, which  he  did,  much  to  their  satisfaction. 

''  Now,  old  Dutchy,"  cried  Long  Bill,  ''  you 
have  done  pretty  well,  but  there  is  yet  one  more 
thing  which  by  your  own  account  you  will  ap- 
pear well  in,  and  that  is  a  song.  Come,  old 
boy,  mount  the  table,  and  give  us  a  song." 
^' A  song,  a  song,"  cried  all,  and  so  a  song  it  was. 

Somewhat  emboldened  by  the  copious  pota- 
tions which  he  had  taken.  Mynheer  Bartus 
thinking  this  was  too  much  to  demand  of  one 
man,  and  that  he  had  contributed  his  full  share 
to  the  common  amusement,  doggedly  refused 
to  comply  farther  with  their  imperative  re- 
quests. "  Who'll  have  a  piece,  who'll  have  a 
piece,"  cried  Long  Bill,  again  flourishing  his 
knife  and  smacking  his  lips  in  very  contempla- 
tion of  the  delicate  morceau, ''  Come,  come, 
old  boy,  a  song  or  it's  all  day  with  you."  The 
hint  was  enough,  and  scrambling  up,  upon  the 
table,  Bartus  threw  back  his  head,  squared  his 
shoulders,  drew  in  his  paunch,  opened  his 
mouth,  and  sung  at  or  bawled  at  the  top  of  his 
lungs,  the  following  catch  : 

The  devils  and  saints  were  a  walking  one  night, 

When  a  saint  met  an  imp  on  the  way, 

Says  the  saint  to  the  imp,  ha,  halloo,  Mr.  Wightj        ^ 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


161 


So  you're  out  for  a  frolick  and  play. 

Sing  Tol  de  rol,  Fol  de  rol,  Tiddle  dol  day. 

The  devil  pulled  forth  from  his  pocket  a  mug, 
Which  he  gave  to  his  Saintship  to  hold, 
Then  forth  from  the  other  he  drew  a  black  jug 
All  covered  with  brimstone  and  gold. 

Sing  Tol  de  rol,  Fol  de  fol,  Tiddle  dol  day. 

Says  he  I  will  drink  to  your  Saintship's  good  eyes, 
Which  are  brighter  .by  far  than  the  day. 
The  liquor  he  poured  flashed  a  flame  to  the  skies  . 
And  his  linpship  flew  laughing  away. 

Sing  Tol  de  rol,  Fol  de  rol,  Tiddle  dol  day. 

*'  Huzzah,"  shouted  the  men,  ^'  pretty  well 
sung,  pretty  well  sung  for  a  member  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed,  a  right  good  and  a  merry 
song." 

The  valorous  Hoofd  Sellout,  elated  with  his 
success  and  beginning  to  warm  with  the  liquor, 
shouted  too,  as  loudly  as  the  men,  and  would 
fain  have  given  another  specimen  of  his  vocal 
powers,  so  well  was  he  satisfied  with  his  first 
performance,  had  not  his  second  attempt  been 
cut  off  at  the  first  line,  by  his  auditors,  who 
having  suffered  sufficiently,  now  pulled  him 
down,  and  insisted  that  he  should  join  them  af 
some  game  which  they  had  been  playing.  The 
little  magistrate  was  soon  ''  hale  fellow,  well 
met,"  and  as  deep  in  the  game  as  the  most  skil- 
ful among  them.  The  coin  and  half-pence 
which  he  had  so  inconsiderately  displayed  to 
Jacques,  within  the  city  walls,  were  soon  staked 
on  the  table  and  lost.  His  watch,  (the  old 
English  buirs-eye,)  went  next  and  the  whole 
of  the  burgher's  httle  capital  was  fairly  divid- 
ed among  the  seamen.  At  length  satisfied  with 
14^ 


162  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

their  sport,  they  ''  doused  the  ghm"  and  left 
the  hut  leading  with  them  the  sheriff.  Him 
they  tumbled  into  their  boat  notwithstanding 
all  remonstrances,  and  following  him  them- 
selves, shoved  out,  and  dropped  down  the 
stream.  A  half-ht)ur  of  steady  pulKng  elapsed 
and  the  Hoofd  Schout  found  himself  alongside 
of  a  brigantine,  aboard  of  which  he  was  forced 
to  clamber. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

We  left  La  Vincent  about  retiring,  puzzled 
with  the  enigma,  whether  duty  on  the  one  side, 
.  or  love  and  honour  on  the  other,  should  pre- 
vail. The  reader  has  seen  how  sophistry  lent 
the  young  man  her  kind  assistance  to  extricate 
him  from  the  dilemma,  and  if  he  has  thus  far 
w^aded  through  these  pages,  he  will  now  see 
w^hat  chance  did  to  aid  him. 

La  Vincent  retired,  that  night,  a  happy  man. 
He  had  seen  Elvellynne,  and  all  that  was  un- 
pleasant had  been  explained  away.  It  is  true 
that  the  cloud  of  mystery  had  not  yet  lifted, 
but  what  did  he  care  for  that,  he  had  seen  his 
heart's  idol,  and  it  was  enough  for  him  to 
know  that  she  was  yet  his,  and  in  safety.  As 
for  the  uncertainty  which  seemed  to  bind  the 
Admiral  to  her  and  throw  a  veil  over  him,  La 
Vincent  cared  not  for  that,  knowing  that  time 
would  dispel  the  mist,  and  once  more   every 


ADMIRAL    LOWE^  163 

thing  would  beam  with  a  gladdening  ray,  the 
more  bright  from  its  momentary  obscuration. 
He  fell  asleep,  thinking  of  Elvellynne  De 
Montford,  and  his  dreams,  we  have  no  doubt, 
were  pleasant,  very  pleasant ! 

Be  that  as  it  may,  his  sleep  was  ere  long  dis- 
turbed, and  as  the  first  grey  streaks  of  ap- 
proaching day  were  clambering  up  the  eastern 
sky,  his  drowsy  ear  was  attracted  by  an  unusual 
sound.  He  listened,  and  became  assured  that 
he  heard  a  scuffle  on  deck.  Jumping  from  his 
berth,  and  donning  his  garments  in  haste,  he 
ran  to  the  deck,  where  his  suspicions  were  at 
once  confirmed. 

The  officer  of  the  watch  was  contending, 
hand  to  hand,  with  a  tall,  powerful-looking 
man,  while  a  gang  of  an  hundred  assailants 
were  very  busily  engaged,  securing  the  watch 
on  deck.  With  the  speed  of  thought,  La  Vin- 
cent jumped  to  the  drum  and  beat  the  alarm, 
then  seizing  a  cutlass  he  rushed  aft,  and  with  a 
blow  struck  down  the  tall  man,  with  whom  the 
officer  was  engaged.  The  men  now  came 
tumbling  up  from  below,  armed  ready  for  a 
contest,  and  the  assailants  making  directly  at 
them,  the  contest  soon  became  general.  After 
striking  down  the  tall  man,  LaVincent  had  time 
to  look  around  him. 

All  about  the  Greyhound,  where,  on  the 
evening  previous,  when  he  returned  from  the 
Brigantine,  there  had  been  no  sign  of  animated 
life,  nothing,  save  the  peaceful  waters  glitter- 
ing in  the  moon-light,  were  now  sailing  small 
vessels.      Two   were    at    anchor,    a    cable's 


164  THE  BRIGANTINE  I    OR, 

length  off,  to  which  probably  belonged  the 
gang  of  assailants,  while  several  were  slipping 
along  with  an  easy  breeze,  just  ready  to  drop 
anchor,  and  he  counted  in  the  offing  seven  more 
white  sails,  gUttering  in  the  dying  moonUght. 
He  felt  that  his  time  for  action  was  short,  and 
must  be  improved  ere  the  other  vessels  arrived 
and  sent  additional  force. 

His  decks  once  cleared  of  the  unexpected 
enemy,  and  the  ship  once  more  his  own,  he 
entertained  no  fear  of  being  able  to  defend  her 
until  she  could  be  put  ''  under  way,"  ^  when  he 
thought  that  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in 
maintaining  an  equal  contest.  To  attain  this 
end  he  rallied  his  men,  now  hard  pressed  by  the. 
pirates,  and  putting  himself  at  their  head, 
made  a  furious  attack  upon  the  enemy,  which 
failed  to  expel  them ;  on  the  contrary,  anima- 
ted and  encouraged  by  augmentations  to  their 
numbers  continually  pouring  in  from  the  com- 
ing vessels,  the  pirates  succeeded  in  driving 
the  young  commander,  with  his  men,  to  the  af- 
ter part  of  the  vessel. 

Much  time  had  been  consumed  in  the  en- 
gagement, and  the  sun  was  now  rising,  display- 
ing to  La  Vincent  the  ferocious-looking  men 
with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  and  what  was 
worse,  their  very  superior  force,  which  entirely 
discouraged  his  crew.  Boldly  the  young  man 
rallied  his  drooping  band,  and  endeavoured  to 
animate  them  on  to  another  charge,  but  the  dis- 
heartened seamen  resolutely  kept  their  ground, 
satisfied  with  acting  only  upon  the  defensive. 
In  this  condition  the  two  powers  stood  glaring 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  165 

upon  each  other,  with  fierce  looks  of  hatred, 
neither  wiUing  to  make  an  onset  which  they 
knew  must  be  attended  with  much  bloodshed, 
when  the  pirates  hit  upon  an  expedient  which 
would  soon  have  terminated  the  contest,  had 
not  an  unexpected  power  appeared,  and  put  an 
end  to  the  'fray. 

The  leader  of  the  pirates,  a  short,  thick-set, 
wicked-looking  devil,  calling  a  few  of  his  men, 
wheeled  into  the  gang-way  the  two  long  guns 
from  under  the  forecastle,  and  pointed  them 
directly  aft.  These  were  soon  crammed  half- 
full  of  nails,  broken  bottles,  and  other  kinds  of 
laugrage,  primed  ready  for  discharge,  and  a 
man  stationed  at  each  with  a  ready  match.  So 
soon  as  these  preparations  were  ejffected,  the 
leader  stepped  forward,  and  summoned  |La 
Vincent  to  surrender  his  ship  or  he  w^ould  blow 
both  him  and,hi-s  men  to  hell !  It  was  a  trying 
moment  for  the  young  Briton.  His  crew  were 
gathered  around  him  like  a  flock  of  hurt  ducks, 
and  he  read  in  the  countenances  of  all,  dismay 
and  surrender. 

The  pirates  had  so  well  planned  their  attack 
that,  before  the  officer  of  the  w^atch  had  been 
aware,  they  w^ere  tumbling  aboard,  over  the 
rail,  in  every  direction.  The  suddenness  of 
the  attack,  great  numbers  of  the  assailants, 
and  their  unparalleled  ferocity,  had  dishearten- 
ed the  men,  and  it  was  with  feelings  of  regret, 
vexation,  and  despair,  that  La  Vincent  heard 
them  sullenly  murmuring,  "  Surrender,  surren- 
der, and  save  lives."  The  two  long  guns  were 
resting  within  a  few  feet  of  his  men  and  him- 


166  THE  briga'ntine  :  or, 

self,  and  the  two  desperadoes  standing  by  them 
were  carelessly  blowing  their  matches,  a  spark 
from  which  might  have  hurried  them  into  eter- 
nity, and  seemed  desirous  to  hear  the  awful 
mandate  from  their  leader,  "  to  fire.''  "  Surren- 
der, surrender,"  cried  the  pirate  leader,  or  by 
God  and  the  saints  111  send  you  to  the  other 
world,  without  shrift  or  prayer."  '^  Never!" 
answered  La  Vincent,  ''  never,  villain  !  will  I 
give  up  my  ship  to  you  or  your  bloody  6rew, 
till  you  take  her.  You  may  do  the  cruel  deed, 
which  will  ensure  you  a  hell  hereafter,  but  if 
you  are  a  man,"  cried  the  young  Englishman, 
advancing  forwards,  "  you  will  meet  me  in  fair 
battle,  single  handed,  to  prove  your  right  to 
such  a  claim."  ''  Back,  back,"  cried  the  pirate, 
fearing  that  the  commander's  crew  would  fol- 
low him,  '^  back,  back  I  say,  or  I  will  give  the 
word." 

Constrained  by  so  horrible  a  threat,  and  feel- 
ing only  for  his  men,  the  yotmg  man  moved 
back  to  his  former  station,  while  the  pirate 
continued, — 

''  Ha  !  ha  !  do  you  think,  when  I  have  you 
all  under  my  thumb,  and  your  ship  under  my 
command,  that  I  am  fool  enough  to  venture  a 
personal  combat,  which  can  result  in  no  good 
other  than  to  gratify  personal  vanity.  Did  you 
offer  to  Harris  the  chance  of  a  trial  at  single 
strife  ?  No,  no.  I  have  you  snug,  and  will 
keep  you  there  ;  and  now,  sir  Englishman,  do 
you  surrender'?  I  give  you  three  minutes," 
continued  the  pirate,  taking  out  his  watch,  "  to 
consider ;  and  if  you  are   stubborn,  to  make 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  167 

your  peace  with  that  God,  before  whom  you 
will  as  certainly  appear  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  as  that  my  name  is  Tom  Swifter. 
'^  Stand  by  your  guns  there,  men  !  blow  your 
matches  ;  for  there  must  be  no  bungling  in  this 
business,  and  be  ready  to  fire  when  I  give  the 
word." 

The  pirate  stood,  watch  in  hand,  confront- 
ing La  Vincent ;  and  as  one  minute  had  elapsed, 
he  cried,  ^^  One  minute  gone  !  Do  you  sur- 
render ?"  The  young  man  was  silent.  '*  Two 
minutes  gone  !"  again  cried  the  chief,  watching 
the  movements  of  the  seconds.  "  Do  you  con- 
clude ?     Make  up  your  mind  quickly." 

It  was  a  horrible  suspense.  La  Vincent  did 
not  fear  to  meet  death ;  but  he  dreaded  to  think 
how  many  innocent  men  were  with  him  stand- 
ing upon  the  brink  of  a  dark,  mysterious  futu- 
rity. He  thought  too,  *in  that  moment  of  sus- 
pense, of  Elvellynne  De  Montford ;  and  a 
thousand  tender  recollections, — ay,  the  whole 
past,  came  rushing  upon  him  with  the  startling 
distinctness  of  reality,  scene  after  scene  swell- 
ing into  relief,  and  flitting  by  him  as  if  to  mock 
his  situation.  He  thought  of  his  evening's 
visit  to  the  brigantine,  where  all  difficulties  had 
been  so  happily  explained  away ;  and  the  very 
thought  maddened  him. 

*'  Stand  by  your  guns !  blow  your  matches  !" 
cried  the  pirate,  turning  to  his  men  as  the  allot- 
ted time  was  nearly  elapsed ;  then  turning 
again  to  La  Vincent,  he  repeated  his  summons 
to  surrender. 

''Never!  never]"  shouted  the  young  man, 


166  THE    BRIGA*NTINE  I    OR, 

self,  and  the  two  desperadoes  standing  by  them 
were  carelessly  blowing  their  matches,  a  spark 
from  which  might  have  hurried  them  into  eter- 
nity, and  seemed  desirous  to  hear  the  awful 
mandate  from  their  leader,  "  to  fire."  ''  Surren- 
der, surrender,"  cried  the  pirate  leader,  or  by 
God  and  the  saints  I'll  send  you  to  the  other 
world,  without  shrift  or  prayer."  *' Never!" 
answered  La  Vincent,  '^  never,  villain  !  will  I 
give  up  my  ship  to  you  or  your  bloody  6rew, 
till  you  take  her.  You  may  do  the  cruel  deed, 
which  will  ensure  you  a  hell  hereafter,  but  if 
you  are  a  man,"  cried  the  young  Englishman, 
advancing  forwards,  ^^you  will  meet  me  in  fair 
battle,  single  handed,  to  prove  your  right  to 
such  a  claim."  ''  Back,  back,"  cried  the  pirate, 
fearing  that  the  commander's  crew  would  fol- 
low him,  ''  back,  back  I  say,  or  I  will  give  the 
word." 

^  Constrained  by  so  horrible  a  threat,  and  feel- 
ing only  for  his  men,  the  yolmg  man  moved 
back  to  his  former  station,  while  the  pirate 
continued, — 

''  Ha  !  ha  !  do  you  think,  when  I  have  you 
all  under  my  thumb,  and  your  ship  under  my 
command,  that  I  am  fool  enough  to  venture  a 
personal  combat,  which  can  result  in  no  good 
other  than  to  gratify  personal  vanity.  Did  you 
offer  to  Harris  the  chance  of  a  trial  at  single 
strife  ?  No,  no.  I  have  you  snug,  and  will 
keep  you  there  ;  and  now,  sir  Englishman,  do 
you  surrender^  I  give  you  three  minutes," 
continued  the  pirate,  taking  out  his  watch,  "  to 
consider ;  and  if  you  are  stubborn,  to  make 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  167 

your  peace  with  that  God,  before  whom  you 
will  as  certainly  appear  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  as  that  my  name  is  Tom  Swifter. 
"  Stand  by  your  guns  there,  men  !  blow  your 
matches  ;  for  there  must  be  no  bungling  in  this 
business,  and  be  ready  to  fire  when  I  give  the 
word." 

The  pirate  stood,  watch  in  hand,  confront- 
ing La  Vincent ;  and  as  one  minute  had  elapsed, 
he  cried,  '^  One  minute  gone  !  Do  you  sur- 
render ?"  The  young  man  was  silent.  '^  Two 
minutes  gone  !"  again  cried  the  chief,  watching 
the  movements  of  the  seconds.  *'  Do  you  con- 
clude ?     Make  up  your  mind  quickly." 

It  was  a  horrible  suspense.  La  Vincent  did 
not  fear  to  meet  death ;  but  he  dreaded  to  think 
how  many  innocent  men  were  with  him  stand- 
ing upon  the  brink  of  a  dark,  mysterious  futu- 
rity. He  thought  too,  'in  that  moment  of  sus- 
pense, of  Elvellynne  De  Montford ;  and  a 
thousand  tender  recollections, — ay,  the  whole 
past,  came  rushing  upon  him  with  the  startling 
distinctness  of  reality,  scene  after  scene  swell- 
ing into  relief,  and  flitting  by  him  as  if  to  mock 
his  situation.  He  thought  of  his  evening's 
visit  to  the  brigantine,  where  all  difficulties  had 
been  so  happily  explained  away ;  and  the  very 
thought  maddened  him. 

''  Stand  by  your  guns !  blow  your  matches  !" 
cried  the  pirate,  turning  to  his  men  as  the  allot- 
ted time  was  nearly  elapsed ;  then  turning 
again  to  La  Vincent,  he  repeated  his  summons 
to  surrender. 

''Never!  never]"  shouted  the  young  man, 


168  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

maddened  by  his  reflections ;  and  springing 
forwards,  he  discharged  a  pistol,  which  killed 
one  of  the'  two  men  at  the  guns,  and  rushed  at 
the  pirate  with  his  drawn  swor^. 

*'  Fire  !"  shouted  the  pirate  leader,  ''  fire  !" 

*'  Hold !  hold !"  cried  a  voice  of  thunder, 
which  arrested  all  motion,  and  held  both  par- 
ties mute,  with  such  fierceness  and  power  was 
the  counter-order  uttered,  and  all  turned  in  the 
direction  of  the  speaker.  It  was  Admiral 
Lowe,  armed  to  the  teeth. 

Frustrated  in  his  design,  the  pirate  jumped 
to  a  gun,  seized  a  match,  and  would  have  ap- 
plied it  to  the  vent,  had  not  the  Admiral  at  that 
moment  deliberately  drawn  from  his  belt  a  pis- 
tol, and  shot  him  through  the  head. 

''  Huzza  for  the  Admiral !  the  Admiral  for 
ever!"  shouted  the  pirate  gang,  awed  into  this 
display  of  loyalty  and  obedience  by  his  fierce 
and  determined  demeanour. 

The  Admiral  stepped  forwards,  and  ordered 
the  dead  man  removed ;  then  turning  to  the 
pirates,  said,  '*  You  have  all  seen  a  sudden  dis- 
play of  retributive  justice.  Did  I  not  well, 
men  ?  He  disobeyed  the  law,  and  for  that  I 
shot  him ;  and  should  have  done  so  had  the 
matter  pending,  instead  of  fifty  brave  fellows' 
lives,  been  a  straw.  Did  I  not  right,  men  ?" 
asked  the  old  man,  turning  fiercely  to  the  awed 
pirates,  and  yet  holding  in  his  grasp  the  wea- 
pon of  death,  still  smoking. 

^'  Aye,well !"  shouted  the  men  ;  "  he  disobey- 
ed, and  deserved  his  fate.  Huzza  for  the  Ad- 
miral!" 


ADBIIRAL    LOWE.  169 

La  Vincent  could  not  help  acfmiring  the 
boldness  of  spirit  which  had  suggested  and 
€ffected  this  summary  act  of  justice,  and 
thought  to  himself  that  the  old  man,  who  thus 
with  impunity  could  inflict  death  upon  his  sub- 
jects, was  not  only  an  Admiral,  but  truly  an 
autocrat.  It  was  thus,  and  thus  only,  that  he 
could  keep  in  subjection  the  wild  and  insubor- 
dinate spirits  which  he  commanded,  and  retain 
that  stern  superiority  or  sovereignty  which, 
when  elected  to  the  station  of  Admiral,  with 
power  to  form  a  code  of  laws,  he  had  wisely 
arrogated  to  himself  It  was  the  violation  of 
one  of  these  laws  which  had  caused  the  death 
of  the  infringer ;  and  that  law  every  man  in 
the  whole  fleet  had  sanctioned.  There  could 
then  be  no  grumbling  at  the  old  man's  sum- 
mary proceeding,  which  was  nothing  more  than 
carrying  into  effect  that  law  w^hich  constituted 
him  sole  arbiter,  and  gave  into  his  hands  the 
power  of  life  and  death. 

Having  exacted  from  his  men  the  above 
homag*e,  the  old  man  sternly  demanded  why 
and  upon  whose  authority  the  attack  upon  the 
Greyhound  had  been  made  without  his  know- 
ledge The  abashed  seamen  answered,  that 
it  was  under  Will  Swifter's  advice  and  direc- 
tion that  the  excursion  had  been  planned,  and 
they  had  all  joined  him  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
stroying a  vessel  w^hich  had  given  them  so 
much  fear,  and  made  so  many  prizes  of  their 
smaller  craft. 

After  a  short  lecture  of  admonition  to  under- 
take nothing  for  the  future  of  so  much  moment 
15 


170  THE    BRIGANTINE  !    OR, 

without  first  consulting  him,  the  Admiral  bade 
them  all  betake  themselves  to  their  several 
vessels,  and  sail  for  the  rendezvous,  w^here  in 
a  few  days  he  would  meet  them,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  dividing  certain  spoil  which  had  fortu- 
nately fallen  into  his  hands. 

With  a  loud  shout  the  pirates  jumped  into 
their  boats  alongside,  and  returned  to  their  own 
vessels,  and  in  an  hour  more  the  bay  was  per- 
fectly tranquil,  with  not  a  sail  in  sight,  nor  a 
vestige  left  to  mark  what  had  so  lately  been  a 
scene  of  violence. 

We  left  the  Hoofd  Schout  just  clambering 
aboard  the  brigantine.  Once  fairly  aboard, 
the  magistrate  was  politely  ushered  aft  by 
Jacques,  and  into  the  cabin,  where  at  a  small 
table  covered  with  books  sat  the  Admiral  read- 
ing. Disturbed  by  their  entrance,  he  looked 
up  from  his  occupation,  and-  seeing  who  his 
visitor  was,  at  once  laid  down  his  book  and 
accosted  him. 

'*  Ah,  Mynheer  Spooturken,  I  have  not  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  since  the  day  I  met 
you  on  Bridden's  bridge.  Has  the  Evil  Spirit 
troubled  you  since  T 

"  Please  your  Worship,  Admiral,"  interposed 
Jacques,  ''  the  spirit  has  been  at  work  again ; 
and  I  had  almost  a  mind  to  knock  the  lubber 
on  the  head  for  his  brags  at  the  dame's  this 
evening." 

Here  Jacques  related  to  the  Admiral  the 
Schout's  conversation  at  the  Dame's,  which  had 
been  so  inopportunely  interrupted  by  the  en- 
trance of  the  urchin  who  had  witnessed  the 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  iri 

whole  proceedings  at  the  bridge,  between  him 
and  the  traveller,  and  who  Bartus,  thinking 
might  have  taken  a  very  different  view  of  the 
subject,  determined  to  avoid,  but  in  so  doing, 
to  use  an  old  and  not  very  comely  adage,  *'  fell 
out  of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire."  ''  Hah," 
said  the  Admiral,  rising  and  seizing  a  riding- 
whip  which  lay  near,  "is  the  spirit  such  an  ob- 
stinate one  that  he  requires  a  second  applica- 
tion of  the  unpleasant  remedy,  but  come  hither, 
Mvnheer  Schout,  and  I  warrant  me  that  this 
second  dose  shall  be  so  effectual,  as  to  rid  you 
for  ever  of  this  troublesome  malady,  aye,  and 
even  extend  its  influence  to  half  the  old  wo- 
men in  Nieuw  Orange?' 

The  Schout  not  having  yet  forgotten  how 
vigorously  the  traveller  had  plied  the  birch  at 
their  last  interview,  and  dreading  a  repetition 
of  the  same,  fell  on  his  knees  and  began  to 
blubber,  at  the  same  time  imploring  in  a  very 
pathetic  tone  of  voice,  for  mercy.  ''  Ah,  friend 
Schout,"  replied  the  Admiral,  shaking  his  head 
doubtfully,  '4t  is  a  foul  disease,  a  dangerous 
malady,  and  one  that  requires  both  harsh  and 
instantaneous  treatment,  and  it  were  both  pity 
and  shame  that  so  valuable  an  officer  as  your- 
self should  be  lost  to  the  good  city,  through  a 
malady  of  this  kind,  for  which  there  is  a  com- 
petent physician,  and  active  medicine  ;  besides, 
with  such  a  regard  for  thee  as  I  have,  how 
can  I  endure  to  see  thee  the  sport  of  the  foul 
fiend  when  I  have  the  means  of  allaying  him, 
and  a  little  exertion  on  my  part  will  restore 
to  full  health  and  vigour,  an  old  and  valued 


172  THE    BRIGANTINE  I  OR 


friend.  No,  no,  friend  Spootnrken,  it  would 
be  no  mercy,  it  would  be  cruelty  to  grant  what 
you  crave,  and  so  I  will  e'en  proceed  to  ad- 
minister to  thee  a  second  dose  of  this  secret 
medicine,  whose  reputation  was  never  yet 
known  to  fail  in  effecting  a  perfect  cure.'^ 
Saying  which,  the  Admiral  seized  the  demon- 
possessed  patient,  and  commenced  that  course 
of  medicine  which  he  had  just  been  lauding. 
How  far  this  might  have  gone  is  uncertain,  but 
as  the  Schout  commenced  his  music  to  dance 
to,  Elvellynne  De  Montford,  as  we  still  con- 
tinue to  call  her,  entered  the  apartment.  Myn- 
heer Bartus,  who  had  a  great  reverence  for 
all  womankind,  probably  instilled  into  him  by 
the  frequent  lectures  of  his  better  half,  which, 
to  say  the  truth,  were  not  always  confined  to 
theory  solely,  as  the  good  burgher's  shoulders 
might  have  attested  to,  stretched  his  appealing 
hands  to  the  maiden  for  her  intercession  in  his 
behalf,  and  not  in  vain,  for  on  Elvellynne's 
application  to  the  physician,  he  was  released. 
*'  I  thank  thee,  maiden,  verily,  from  the  bottom  of 
my  heart,  and  will  always  remember  thee  with 
kindness,"  said  Bartus,  turning  to  leave  the 
apartment.  ''Hold,  hold.  Mynheer  Spootur- 
ken,"  cried  the  Admiral,-''  I  have  somewhat  to 
do  with  thee,  sit  ye  down  and  answer  my 
questions.  How  much  family  have  you  V^ 
"  Mein  vroeuw  and  one  child,"  returned  the 
purturbed  questionee,  not  know^ing  what  was 
to  be  the  event  of  this  strange  interrogation, 
and  probably  not  at  the  moment  reflecting  that 
it  was  very  natural  for  a  man  who  had  ex- 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  173 

pressed  such  a  warm  regard'  for  himself,  as 
the  Admiral  had  done,  to  feel  some  interest  in 
all  pertaining  to  him.  "  And  these,"  asked 
the  Admiral,  ''  are  all  you  have  to  support." 
''  Yes,"  replied  the  burgher,  ''  and  more  than 
one  man  can  well  take  care  of  in  these  hard 
times."  /  ' 

*'  How  much  property  have  you  ?"  asked 
the  Admiral.  Mynheer  Spooturken's  dull 
faculties  now  began  to  see  the  drift  of  the  mat- 
ter, and  fearing  for  his  substance,  he  rashly 
answered,  ''None,  sir  Admiral,  not  a  stiver  other 
than  comes  from  my  profession,  and  that  hard- 
ly yields  me  a  comfortable  subsistence." 

Now  the  fact  was,  and  the  Admiral  well 
knew  it,  that  the  Hoofd  Schout  was  possessed 
of  a  very  handsome  little  patrimony,  besides  a 
large  sum  that  more  than  supported  him, 
which  he  ground  out  of  his  fellow-citizens,  ia 
the  shape  of  fees  from  the  common  council. 
The  Admiral  also  knew  the  parsimonious  habits 
of  the  burgher,  who  hardly  allov/ed  his  little 
family  the  means  to  hold  together  body  and 
soul,  while  he  himself  was  almost  a  nightly 
frequenter  of  Dame  Benny's  tap-room,  swilling 
away  her  far-famed  hoUands,  and  squandering 
in  debauchery  and  dissipation,  that  which,  if 
rightly  appropriated,  would  have  yielded  his 
wife  and  child  a  very  comfortable  and  easy 
subsistance,  relieving  them  from  that  state  of 
misery  in  which  they  really  were  living. 
*' What,  nothing  say  you?"  asked  his  interro- 
gator. ''  Aye,  nothing,  sir  Admiral,"  despond- 
ingly  replied  the  magistrate,  ''it  is  even  as  I 
15* 


174  THE  BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

say.  *^How  then/'  asked  the  admiral,  in  a 
stern  voice,  which  made  the  poor  dignitary 
quake  for  very  fear,  "  how  then  is  it,  sirrah,  that 
you  are  so  unremitting  an  attendant  at  Mistress 
Benny's  every  evening,  partaking  of  the  best, 
and  swaggering  with  the  loudest  roysterers, 
while  you  wash  down  lie  upon  lie,  with  costly 
hollands.  How  is  it,  answer  me?"  The 
Schout  began  to  make  sundry  excuses  for  this 
incongruity,  and  said  that  it  was  not  of  his  own 
mind,  that  he  never  should  have  frequented 
the  Dame's  for  liquor,  which  cost  him  a  ^^  good 
penny,"  had  it  not  been  in  accordance  with  the 
views  of  his  physician,  who  advised  him  to 
drink  plenty  of  generous  liquors,  and  frequent 
some  place  where  mirth  was  going  on,  as  be- 
ing the  best  and  only  remedy  for  depressed 
spirits,  with  which  he  was  troubled. 

Now  this  was  an  arrant  lie,  and  the  Admiral 
well  knew  it  to  be  such,  but  proceeded  with 
the  conversation.  "  Did  you  ever  see  a 
healthier-looking  man  than  myself  ?"  "No,"  re- 
plied the  Schout.  '*  Well,  then,"  continued 
the  Admiral,  "  I  will  tell  you  how  it  waa 
brought  about,  and  how  you  may  become  the 
same.  I  too,  was  once  in  early  youth  affected 
with  hypochondria  and  other  maladies,  which 
troubled  me  much ;  to  remove  these,  I  began 
to  take  plenty  of  exercise  and  live  moderately, 
the  consequence  of  which,  was  a  speedy  resto- 
ration to  health ;  but  first  I  had  to  abandon  all 
*  generous  liquors,'  which  your  physician  advo- 
cates, and  drink  nothing  but  water,  which  I 
have  done  to  this  day,  and  have  found  that  it 


ADMIRAL  LOWE.  175 

not  only  restored  the  health  of  my  body,  bnt 
of  my  pocket  also.  Do  you  so  also,  and  you 
shall  have  the  warrant  of  Ephraim  Lowe,  that 
you  become  a  better  and  happier  man.  Now 
touching  the  poverty  of  which  you  speak,  it  is 
a  bad  ailment  also,  and  something  akin  to  the 
disease  of  the  evil  spirit,  but  I  warrant  me  that 
means  can  be  found  to  make  you  aware  of  the 
possession  of  something,  which  would,  no 
doubt,  make  you  somewhat  happier  than  to  be 
a  poverty-stricken  man."  ^'  Aye,  forsooth, 
would  it,"  answered  the  unconscious  Schout. 

The  Admiral  stepped  to  the  table,  where- 
upon stood  writing  implements,  and  drew  up 
two  papers,  which  he  presented  to  Bartus  to 
sign.     The  first  paper  ran  thus, — 

^'  I,  Bartus  Spooturken,  do  here  solemnly  pro- 
mise to  Ephraim  Lowe,  upon  pain  of  his  displea- 
sure, to  abstain  from  all  liquors  for  the  space 
of  one  year ;  and  during  the  said  time  herein 
mentioned,  to  put  myself  to  the  bodily  exercise 
of  walking  five  good  English  miles  per  diem 
before  eating. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  

day  of in   the   year   of  our  Lord, 

1673, 

(Signed)         *'  Bartus  Spooturken." 

This  paper  the  good  man  read  over,  and 
would  have  made  some  remonstrance  with  the 
Admiral,  but  a  single  glance  at  the  riding- whip 
in  the  corner,  at  once  silenced  him,  and  with- 
out farther  demur  he  affixed  his  name  to  the 


178 

was  able  to  discern  commotion  on  board  the 
cruizer,  and  several  boats  plying  to  and  fro  be- 
tween the  Greyhound  and  the  vessels  which 
he  recoo^nised  as  sailinor-  under  his  flaor. 

The  Admiral  was  well  aware  of  the  rancor- 
ous enmity  entertained  by  all  the  pirates  against 
this  vessel  of  the  king's,  and  at  once  inferred 
that  the  present  object  of  their  expedition  was 
to  surprise  and  destroy  her  at  her  anchorage. 
With  the  view  of  preventing  bloodshed  and 
saving  La*  Vincent,  the  old  man  ordered  his 
men  to  bend  to  their  oars,  and  reached  the 
cruiser  at  that  critical  moment,  when  a  word 
saved  everything,  save  him  who  disobeyed  the 
command,  and  he,  as  we  have  seen,  suifered 
the  penalty  of  insubordination,  and  paid  the 
forfeit  with  his  life. 

It  may  easily  be  conceived,  that  if  La  Vin- 
cent felt  bound  to  the  Admiral  before,  that 
bond  was  now  in  no  way  weakened.  Again 
and  again  he  thanked  the  old  man  for  his  time- 
ly aid,  and  in  the  fulness  of  Ris  heart  begged 
him  to  abandon  his  dangerous  course  of  life, 
break  all  connection  with  the  pirates,  and  seek 
from  the  king  that  mercy  which  he  felt  assured 
would  be  granted  him;  at  the  same  time  the 
young  man  promised  all  the  influence  of  his 
family,  (which  was  not  small)  not  only  to  ob- 
tain for  him  a  pardon,  but  also  a  commission, 
giving  to  him  the  command  of  a  vessel  of  war. 
These  were  no  small  inducements  to  an  out- 
lawed man,  as  La  Vincent  well  knew,  and  his 
surprise  was  great  w^hen,  mildly,  but  firmly,  the 
old  man  declined  accepting  the  tempting  offer, 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  179 


at  the  same  time  declaring  that  he  would  not 
accept  from  so  imbecile  a  monarch  the  very 
first  rank  in  the  kingdom.  He  also  explained 
to  La  Vincent  his  system  of  government  and 
severe  discipline  over  his  lawless  subjects, 
w^hich  convinced  the  young  man  that  his  offers 
were  no  inducement  whatever  to  a  man  who 
really  possessed  more  power  than  the  king 
himself,  and  could,  at  his  pleasure,  (as  he  him- 
self had  witnessed,)  take  w4th  impunity  the 
life  of  any  offender. 

'*  But  come,  young  man,  lay  aside  all  pity 
for  one  whom  you  yourself  acknowledge  to  be 
more  truly  despotical  than  the  very  greatest 
monarch,  and  I  in  return  will  make  you  an 
offer.  Will  you  return  with  me  to  the  brigan- 
tine  and  see  Elvellynne  ?  I  am  about  going 
to  the  rendezvous  to  meet  those*  rash  spirits 
who  made  you  so  unceremonious  a  visit  thin 
morning,  and  shall  be  absent  with  the  brig  a  few 
days.  It  is  the  more  necessary  that  I  should  be 
present  with  them  at  this  time,  as  it  is  necessary 
always  to  strike  while  the  iron  is  hot  if  we 
w^ould  mould  the  material  to  our  purpose.  You 
saw  the  summary  proceeding  effected  by  my 
hand  but  a  few  hours  since,  and  heard  the  shouts 
of  applause  sanctioning  the  deed.  I  have  been 
too  long  a  diplomatist  to  trust  appearances. 
Those  appearances  were  false ;  and  the  very 
shouts  of  applause  will  ere  long,  unless  my 
presence  curbs  them,  be  converted  into  the 
howls  of  disaffection.  I  have  now  a  very  con- 
siderable sum,  and  this  morning  will  bring  me 
an  addition  to  it.     It  is  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 


1^0  THE    BHIGANTINE  :   OR,  ^ 

tributing  this  sum  that  I  would  be  with  these 
men,  as  well  as  by  salutary  discipline  to  curb 
any  feelings  of  revolt  which  may  arise.  This, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  booty,  which  will  all 
be  theirs,  is  a  very  easy  task." 

''  There  young  man,  you  see  some  of  the 
pohcy  of  my  administration,"  concluded  the 
Admiral  smiUng,  ^^  and  if  you  wish  to  see 
Elvellynne  before  I  sail,  you  will  accompany 
me."  La  Vincent  eagerly  accepted  the  in- 
vitation, and  with  the  Admiral  shortly  entereji 
the  boat,  and  pulled  for  the  Brigantine.  We 
will  precede  them  a  little,  and  take  a  view  at 
what  was  actually  going  on  there  during  the 
absence  of  the  Admiral.  The  Hoofd  Schout 
who,  not  well  acquainted  with  his  new 
resting-place,  had  not  enjoyed  as  comfortable 
a  night's  rest  as  was  his  wont,  was  also  early 
mstir  as  well  as  the  Admiral.  He  bethought 
him  if  there  were  no  means  of  escape  from 
his  confinement  without  paving  the  sums  de- 
manded, but  looking  around  and  seeing  how 
every  thing  was  guarded,  he  relinquished  the 
idea,  and  sat  him  down  to  await  patiently  the 
hour  when  the  arrival  of  the  ransom  money 
would  liberate  him.  While  turning  over  the 
events  of  the  few  past  hours,  and  thinking 
himself  to  be  the  sport  of  a  wayward  fortune, 
Mynheer  Bartus  was  summoned  by  a  messen- 
ger to  attend  upon  Elvellynne  De  Montford, 
who  wished  to  speak  with  him.  Not  knowing 
what  new  turn  in  his  fate  this  proceeding  might 
portend  the  burly  magistrate  followed  the 
messenger,  and  was  conducted  into  the  same 


ADMIRAL    LOWE,  181 

cabin  where  the  last  evening  he  had  been  so 
near  partaking  a  second  dose  of  the  Admiral's 
restorative,  and  where  too,  he  had  been 
exempted  from  the  unpleasant  process,  at  the 
intercession  of  the  merciful  maiden.  At  the 
same  table  upon  which  had  been  executed  the 
two  odious  documents  which  he  had  so  unwil- 
lingly signed,  sat  the  maiden.  It  was  now 
several  days  since  she  had  so  suddenly  and 
unceremoniously  left  her  guardian's  roof;  and 
being  really  attached  to  the  good  Alderman, 
and  reflecting  that  it  was  her  duty  to  give  him 
some  information,  she  had  written  the  follow- 
ing letter,  to  deliver  which  was  her  present 
object  in  summoning  the  Hoofd  Schout.  The 
letter  ran  thus  : — 

''  My  dear  uncle,— (for  she  always  called 
the  Alderman  her  uncle.)  You  were  doubtless 
surprised  at  my  leaving  your  dwelling  so  sud- 
denly, without  giving  you,  who  have  ever  been 
as  a  father  to  me,  any  information  of  my  inten- 
tion. I  can  assure  you,  my  dear  guardian, 
that  I  should  not  have  done  so,  had  I  myself 
any  previous  knowled^  of  my  unexpected 
departure.  You  certair^,  if  any  one  on  earth, 
was  entitled  to  the  confidence  of  one  who  has 
ever  partaken  of  your  fatherly  kindness  and 
indulgence.  But  the  events  of  chance  were 
not  at  my  control,  and  ere  I  was  aware,  I  was 
borne  from  your  hospitable  mansion  to  be  en* 
listed  in  a  cause  for  which  I  am  sure  you  will 
not  blame  me,  the  cause  of  Wve.  You  well  re- 
member that  neither  your  intercession  nor 
mine  could  at  all  move  the  governor  in  his  de* 
16 


182  THE  brigantine:  or, 

cision  concerning  one  who  was  dear  to  you  as 
well  as  myself.     From  the  council  chaitiber  I 
returned  home  with  a  heavy  heart,  and  retired 
to  the  privacy  of  the  little  chamber,  which  you 
so  kindly  granted  me  as  mine,  to  pore  over  the 
events  of  the  day,  and  cast  about  me  for  some 
means  of  relief.     I   bethought   me   of  going 
myself  to  the    governor  in  person,  and  inter- 
ceding Tor  mercy  in  behalf  of  the  prisoner,  but 
farther  deliberation    deterred   me.     After  ex- 
hausting  all    my   feeble   invention  for  some 
practicable  resource  in  vain,  I  at  length  gave 
v/ay   to   feelings   of  sadness,    which   entirely 
overcame  me,    and  while  in  that  state  I  was 
transported   from   the   little    room    to   Dame 
Bonny's  in  the  Here-Graft,  by  some  unknown 
person,  whom  I  afterwards  found  out  to  be  no 
less  a  personage  than  (startle  not  at  the  name) 
Ephraim  Lowe.     Admiral  Lowe  told  me  that 
Charles   would    certainly  be  executed  unless 
we  could  find  the  means  to  extricate  him  from 
confinement,  for  which  purpose  he  had  enlisted 
me.     I  will  not  here  weary  you  with  the  de- 
tail of  the  subsequent  escape,  suffice  it  to  say, 
that  the  good  Admir^made  known  to  me  his 
plans,  and    that  night  principally  through  his 
means  the  escape  was  effected.     But  now,  my 
dear  uncle,    I  conle  to  a  mystery  which  I  am 
forbid  at  present  revealing  even  to   you,  yet 
trust  your    affectionate  Elvellynne  when  she 
tells  you  she  is  happy.     Admiral    Lowe  was 
acquainted  with  my  lineage,  and  as  a  proof  of  it, 
presented  to  me  a  fac-simile  of  the  little  minia- 
ture which  I  have  always  worn,  and  which. 


iV 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  183 

until  he  showed  me  a  secret  spring  that  dis- 
closed it,  I  had  never  before  been  conscious 
of.  I  am  intimately  connected  with  this  much 
dreaded,  and  much  misrepresented  man,  on 
board  whose  vessel  I  now  am,  and  for  the  pre- 
sent shall  remain. .  You  need  not  entertain 
any  fears,  my  dearest  uncle,  for  your  Elvel- 
lynne,  for  she  is  happy,  perfectly  happy,  and 
enjoys  frequently  a  visit  from  Captain  La 
Vincent,  whose  vessel  is  anchored  not  far  off. 
I  would  ask  you  to  visit  me,  but  suppose  that 
prejudice  against  the  Admiral  will  prevent. 
It  will  afford  you  doubtless  no  less  pleasure 
than  it  did  me  to  learn  that  your  little  orphaned 
protege  is  the  daughter  of  Lord  Edward 
Hyde, /Earl  of  Clarendon,  the  man  whose  mis- 
fortijnes  we  have  often  together  so  much  de- 
plored." 

''  But  virtue  will  furnish  its  own  reward,  and 
how  is  it  possible  that  we  could  ever  have 
looked  for  a  due  appreciation  of  virtue  in  a 
court  so  basely  profligate  as  that  of  Charles, 
where  vice  sways  the  sceptre,  and  virtue  is 
unknown.  You  will  at  once  ask  where  is  my 
father  now,  since  his  banishment  from  that  fal- 
len kingdom,  which  he  so  long  endeavoured 
in  vain  to  sustain.  I  answer  you,  that  it  is  ge- 
nerally supposed  he  is  living  at  Rouen,  but 
that  I  know  better  his  place  of  residence.  I 
would  write  more,  but  time  presses,  and  I  will 
only  add,  my  dear  uncle,  that  you  must  not 
place  reliance  upon  vague  rumour,  and  believe 
all  the  incredulous  stories  we  used  to  hear 
about  Admiral  Lowe,  for  he  is  indeed  a  kind 


184  THEJ    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

and  good  man,  and  you  will  one  day  learn  to 
love  and  revere  him. 

*'  Adieu,  and  believe  me  to  be  ever, 
Your  affectionate  ward, 

Elvellynnne  De  Montford.'' 

Having  concluded  the  above  epistle,  the 
maiden  rose,  ai\d  advancing  to  the  Hoofd 
Schout,  asked  him  if  he  knew  Aldermen  Van 
Brooter.  Receiving  an  affirmative  answer, 
she  gave  him  the  letter,  at  the  same  desiring 
him  to  deliver  it,  and  receive  her  thanks. 

The  Schout  happened  to  know  that  the  Ad- 
miral was  absent  from  the  brigantine,  and  think- 
ing this  to  be  a  fine  opportunity  of  speaking 
without  fear  of  interruption,  he  commenced. 
''  Yes,  indeed,  young  lady,'ril  deliver  the  let- 
ter for  your  kindness  in  freeing  me  from  that 
dreadful  man's  hands  last  evening,  but  think 
you  there  is  no  way,  no  possible  means  of  my 
extrication  from  confinement,  without  paying 
this  enormous  sum  ?  Let  me  see,"  continued 
Bartus,  making  a  rough  estimate  on  his  fingers 
of  the  amount,  '^  for-^for — for — well  Tve  real- 
ly forgotten,  but  there  was  one  item  of  account, 
five  hundred  ducats,  that's  .five  hundred,"  said 
he,  'placing  the  fore  finger  of  his  right  hand 
very  knowingly  upon  the  fore  finger  of  his  left, 
and  looking  down  very  wisely  to  collect  the 
other  items,  which  he  knew  very  well  all  the 
time,  but  was  not  willing  that  the  maiden 
should  know  how  little  was  the  price  demand- 
ed for  his  person,  wishing  to  impress  her  with 
his  importance,  by  the  great  sum  set  upon  him. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  185 

*^  then  there's,  there's,  let  me  see,  oh,  ah,  there's 
ransom     demanded    for  my    person,    Bartus 
Spooturken,    Hoofd     Schout   of    the    city   of 
Nieuw  Orange,  one  thousand  ducats,  that's  one 
thousand  more,"  continued   he,  proceeding  on 
to  another  finger,  ''  then,  then,  there's  another 
item,  I'am  pretty  sure  of  five  hundred  more, 
what  the  plague  was  it?  it  must  have  been  for 
ransom  too ;  oh,  aye,   aye,    that 's   it,  ransom 
money,  a  postponed  item,  five  hundred  ducats, 
that's   five  hundred  more,"    (another   finger,) 
''And  then,"  (cried  Elvellynne,  laughing  at  the 
burgher's  Httle  artifice,  which  she  perfectly  un- 
derstood,) ''  then  there's  one  item  more,  one 
stiver  making  one  stiver,"  added  she,  assuming 
the  burgher's  meditative  mood  and  manner  of 
computation,    ''  what    is  that    for.    Mynheer 
Spooturken."      Mynheer  Bartus  looked  up  to 
discover  by  the  maiden's  looks  whether   she 
really  knew  or  whether  it   was  a  hap-hazard 
remark,   and   reading  in  hex  merry   laughing 
eyes,  that  she  wa3  well  acquainted  with   th^ 
document  and  items,  and  that  his  game  was 
up,  he  gave  up  the  computation  and  struck  at 
on^  upon  his  main  subject.     ''  It  is   a  round 
sum,"  said  he,  ''if  one  of  the  items  were  even  for 
the  devil's  smoking  tobacco,  and  bethink  you, 
is  there  no  way  that  will  rid  me  of  this  pay- 
ment,"    '*  None,"  returned  Elvellynne,  "  if  you 
would   avoid  a  horrible  death  and   again   be 
free."     "  Saint  Nicholas,"  groaned  the  miserly 
Schout,  "  it  is  a  mighty  sum,  two  thousand  du- 
cats, and  then  there   is  my  bulls-eye  watch, 
worth,  let  me  see,  I  first  paid   Hans  Slouter, 
16^ 


186 

the  silver- smidt,  two  ducats  and  one  stiver  fot 
it,  and  for  various  repairs  since,  three  stivers, 
that  is,  one  and  three  is  four,  and  two  ducats, 
two  ducats  and  four  stivers  ;  then  there  is  my 
half-pence  which  the  beggarly  sailors  extort- 
ed from  me  last  night  at  the  hut,  oh,  oh,  such  a 
sum  in  all." 

Here  Paul  Spleutcher  entered  the  cabin, 
bearing  sundry  bags  of  coin,  which  he  deposit- 
ed upon  the  table  and  withdrew  so  soon  as  the 
Admiral  entered,  which  he  did  a  moment  after. 
^'  Hold,  hold,  let  me  stay !"  (cried  Bartus,  as 
Paul  was  leading  him  forth,)  "  let  me  stay,  and 
see  them  counted,  there  may  be  one  more  than 
the  tally,  let  me  stay,  I  say,"  and  bursting  from 
Paulus,  he  rolled  his  chubby  little  figure  into 
the  presence  of  the  Admiral,  who  stood  laugh- 
ing heartily  at  this  display  of  miserly  spirit. 
*'  Well,  come.  Mynheer,"  cried  the  Admiral, 
humouring  him,  ''  sit  down  and  count  them  over 
carefully,  and  if  there  be  one  too  many,  honest 
Paul  shall  have  it  for  his  trouble,  and  if  there 
be  one  wanting,  you  shall  e'en  repay  it  three- 
fold." The  Schout  now  wished  that  he  had 
let  the  matter  rest,  but  muttering  to  himself, 
'*  Needs  must  go  when  the  devil  drives,"  he  sat 
him  down  on  the  cabin  deck  as  directed,  with 
the  bags  before  him,  commenced  his  wearry 
task.  At  length  it  was  finished,  and  the  num- 
ber found  to  be  exactly  correct.  Mynheer 
Spooturken  was  taken  to  the  deck  and  sent  on 
shore,  having  received  a  good  lesson  to  amend 
his  ways. 

We  will  not  weary  the  reader  with  the  detail 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  187 

of  the  meeting  and  parting  between  the  two 
lovers,  suffice  it  to  say,  that  they  did  meet  and 
did  part,  and  that  scarcely  was  La  Vincent  once 
more  on  board  his  own  vessel  when  the  Merry 
Christmas  was  gliding  down  the  bay  under  a 
press  of  sail.  With  a  feeling  of  despondency, 
the  young  man  watched  the  little  brig,  till  her 
last  sail  had  disappeared  below  the  horizon 
and  then  descended  to  his  cabin.  He  found 
the  cabin  lonely,  or  deemed  it  so,  and  returned 
'*  on  deck."  The  deck  too  was  unpleasant,  and 
for  once  he  began  to  think  that  the  fault  was  in 
the  anchorage,  he  had  never  thought  so  while 
Elvellynne  was  near.  Accordingly  the  sloop 
was  put  under  weigh,  and  stood  out  to  sea  for 
a  cruise,  where,  for  the  present,  we  shall  I'eave 
her. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Three  days  after  her  departure,  the  ''Mer- 
ry Christmas"  was  again  at  anchor  in  the  little 
island-bound  bay.  The  Greyhound,  also,  after 
a  short  cruise,  returned  to  her  former  anchor- 
age, and  the  old  routine  of  visiting  and  being 
visited,  was  resumed  by  the  two  vessels.  Oc- 
casionally, indeed,  the  Admiral  would  make  a 
trip  to  the  rendezvous,  and  La  Vincent,  when 
conscience  whispered  him,  ''duty,  duty^"  would 
be  all  vigour  and  animation,  putting  to  sea  for 


188  THE  brigantine:  or, 

a  cruise,  but  the  expiration  of  three  weeks 
would  always  find  him  snug  at  the  anchorao-e, 
when  the  old  Admiral  would  indulge  in  a  little 
badinerie  at  his  expense,  and  Elvellynne  her- 
self, first  playfully  blame,  and  then  laugh  ^t 
him.  Time  thus  sped  on  with  rapid  wing,  and 
a  year  since  the  opening  of  these  pages  glided 
imperceptibly  away.  The  brig  was  lying  in 
the  little  bay,  having  just  returned  from  one  of 
the  above-mentioned  trips,  to  the  rendezvous, 
and  the  Greyhound  had  not  yet  returned  from 
a  cruise  which  she  had  commenced  some  ten 
days  since.  It  was  that  lovely  season  of  the 
year,  when,  as  a  maiden  from  a  ball,  gay  na- 
ture began  to  doff  the  brighter  garments  in 
which  she  had  revelled  through  the  summer 
hours,  and  the  sear  leaf  floating  by  the  way- 
farer on  the  yet  warm  breathing  breeze,  ad- 
monishing him,  that  to  every  thing  there  is  a 
fall.  Still  it  was  a  time  when  things  were 
lovely. 

The  playful  southerly  breeze  began  to  hold 
with  her  more  rude  relative  a  gentle  strife  and 
murmur  in  the  forest  bough,  that  her  territory 
was  encroached  upon. 

It  was  on  a  bright  morning  when  every 
thing  seemed  to  sympathize  with  decaying  na- 
ture, that  as  the  mist  gradually  dispersed  before 
the  rising  sun,  two  figures  were  slowly  wind- 
ing along  beneath  the  trees,  up  the  little  accli- 
vity which  leads  to  the  summit  of  Nutting 
Island,  now  Governor's  Island. 

Nutting  island,  in  the  year  1674,  was  a  wild, 
uninhabited,  beautiful  island,  rising  (as  it  were) 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  189 

timidly  from  the  surface  of  the  peaceful  waters, 
and  havinor  its  summit  covered  with  innumera- 
able  hickory  .trees,  which  afforded  to  the  youths 
and  maidens  at  this  season  of  the  year,  a  plea- 
sant and  profitable  employment. 

During  the  pleasanter  months  of  summer, 
theisland  was  a  favourite  retreat  for  those  who 
dared  to  make  the  perilous  passage  across  the. 
waters,  and  its  surface  was  marked  with  many 
diverging  paths,  each  one  leading  to  some  rus- 
tic bower,  or  favourite  nut-tree.  It  was  now 
the  season  for  nuts,  which  might  account  for 
the  presence  of  the  two  individuals,  and  in- 
deed the  maiden  seemed  busily  gathering  of 
nature's  stores,  which  she  would  occasionally 
deposit  in  a  basket  carried  by  her  companion, 
a  rather  elderly,  but  fine-looking  man.  The 
maiden  was  in  the  first  blush  of  youth,  and 
might  have  attained  to  eighteen  summers.  Her 
dress  was  of  the  richest  material  as  was  that 
of  her  companion,  and  such  as  was  worn  by 
only  the  wealthiest  and  oldest  families.  The 
path  which  they  were  traversing,  led  from  the 
crossing-pole  (which  stretched  across  Butter- 
milk channel,)  quite  to  the  summit  of  the  land. 
Near  by  the  pole,  was  a  small  party  of  men 
**  getting  out  timber,"  and  discussing  the  mat- 
ters which  had  so  lately  agitated  the  colony. 
The  path  which  has  been  designated  as  lead- 
ing from  the  pole  to  the  crown  of  the  island, 
terminated  in  an  open  plot  of  grass,  free  from 
trees,  and  hallowed  in  the  memory  of  many,  as 
the  Trysting  Place.  It  was  about  midway  be- 
tween the  crossing-pole  and  Trysting  Place, 


190  THE  brigantine:  or, 

that  our  couple  was  startled  by  the  quick, 
sharp  report  of  a  heavy  gun,  and  a  moment 
afterwards,  a  thirty-two  pound  shot  whirr'd  by, 
skipping  along  among  the  branches  cutting  off 
boughs  and  twigs,  till  its  progress  was  arrested 
b}^  the  trunk  of  a  stubborn  old  oak,  in  which 
it  remained  nearly  buried.  "  Ha !"  (said  the 
old  man,  on  examining  the  shot  and  discover- 
ing a  stamp  of  the  king's  crown,)  "  there's  game 
afloat,  let  us  on  my  child  and  see  what  it 
betokens."  Taking  the  maiden's  hand,  he 
hastened  forward  to  the  Try  sting  Place,  whence 
there  was  a  good  view  seaward.  Arrived  at 
this  point,  both  involuntarily  stopped  to  witness 
what  was  going  on  before  them.  A  small 
sloop  of  war  with  English  colours,  was  ma- 
noeuvering  to  escape  from  two  heavy  Dutch 
frigates,  which  had  chased  her  in,  and  were 
now  driving  her  towards  the  land,  where  there 
was  no  possibility  of  escape.  The  little  sloop 
however,  nothing  daunted,  was  beating  up  with 
the  hope  of  weathering  the  island  to  the  north- 
'ard,  and  so  running  up  the  harbour  through 
Salt  (or  East)  river,  through  that  intricate  pas- 
sage so  little  known  at  that  period,  and  so  for- 
midable to  mariners,  as  to  have  received  the 
^y  name  of  ''  Hell  Gadt."  If  she  could  have 
effected  this  manoeuvre,  escape  would  have 
been  no  difficult  matter,  but  at  the  critical  mo- 
ment, when  the  sloop  v/as  heading  half  a  point 
higher  than  the  land,  the  breeze  shifted  a  point 
and  thus  cut  her  off  altogether.  As  she  fell 
off,  however,  the  commander  gallantly  poured 
a  broadside  into  the  nearest  frigate,  which  cut 


ADMIRAL    LOWE. 


191 


away  the  fore-top-gallant-mast,  and  elicited 
from  his  brave  Enghsh  tars,  a  good  hearty  cheer. 
*'  Bravely  done,  young  man,  bravely  done," 
ejaculated  the  old  man,  pleased  with  his  dis- 
play of  daring,  and  entering  as  warmly  into  the 
spirit  of  the  scene,  as  if  he  himself  had  been 
a  participator.  The  frigates  were  now  closing 
rapidly  upon  the  little  vessel,  and  her  destruc- 
tion seemed  inevitable,  when,  with  a  word  of 
admonition  to  his  daughter,  to  meet  him  at  the 
crossing-pole,  the  old  man  rushed  down  to- 
wards the  beach.  *'  Father,  father,"  cried  the 
maidenj  "  my  dear  father,  is  it,  is  it  the  Grey- 
hound?" The  old  man  stopped  a  minute,  ar- 
rested by  the  voice  of  his  child,  and  simply 
replied, ''  it  is,  but  she  is  safe."  "  Thank  God, 
then,"  faintly  ejaculated  the  girl,  and  betook 
herself  to  the  pathway,  placing  implicit  reli- 
ance upon  her  father's  affirmation.  A  few 
steps  brought  the  old  man  to  the  beach,  and 
within  hail  of  the  little  sloop,  where  raising  his 
hands  to  his  mouth,  he  shouted,  "Eh,  oh  !  The 
Greyhound,  ahoy  !"  ''  Hallo,  who  hails,"  was 
returned  from  the  sloop,  in  the  well-known 
voice  of  her  commander.  "  To  the  channel, 
to  the  channel,"  shouted  the  old  man,  *'  there's 
water  enough  to  carry  you  through,  and  I  will 
see  the  pole  clear."  The  sloop  fell  off,  the 
yards  were  trimmed,  and  once  more  the  Grey- 
hound was  dashing  on  under  full  sail  in  the 
direction  of  the  Buttermilk  channel.  The  old 
man  having  waited  to  see  if  his  advice  was 
taken,  now  turned  in  an  easterly  direction  and 
strode  rapidly  on.     The  frigates  thinking  that 


192  THE    BRIGANTINE  :   OR, 

their  prey  was  only  running  ferther  into  the 
net,  crowded  on  sail  and  gave  chase.  The 
Greyhound  stood  gallantly  on,  receiving  the 
fire  of  the  frigates'  bow  guns,  and  as  punctu- 
ally returning  the  same  coin.  The  old  man 
watched  every  motion  of  the  three  vessels, 
with  an  attentive  eye  and  an  interest  appa- 
rently not  exceeded  by  that  of  the  maiden  who 
stood  at  a  little  distance,  wdth  clasped  hands, 
and  eyes  rivetted  upon  the  gallant  sloop.  As 
the  Eno^lish  cruiser  ranored  alono^,  the  old  man 
hailed  her,  to  keep  the  middle  channel,  and 
seizinof^an  axe  from  one  of  the  workmen, 
who  was  listlessly  gazing  upon  the  scene,  he 
jumped  upon  the  crossing  pole^  and  with  a  few 
sturdy  strokes,  w^hich  were  so  powerfully  dealt, 
as  to  excite  the  admiration  of  even  the  timber 
cutters,  severed  the  log,  which  fell  heavily  into 
the  water  and  was  borne  onward  by  the  swift 
flood-tide.  The  Greyhound  dashed  through, 
brushing  the  marsh-grass  on  either  side,  and  as 
she  passed,  La  Vincent  interchanged  compli- 
ments with  Admiral  Low^e,  and  touched  his 
cap  with  reverence  to  Elvellynne,  who  stood 
at  too  great  a  distance  for  speech.  The  Ad- 
miral stood  with  the  axe  in  his  hand,  watch- 
ing the  sloop  as  she  slipped  up  the  bay,  and  had 
fairly  forgotten  the  presence  of  the  two  fri- 
gates till  aroused  by  Elvellynne.  ''  See,  father, 
see,"  (said  she,  laying  her  hand  timidly  on  his 
arm  and  looking  in  the  direction  of  the  nearest 
frigate,)  ^Vthey  send  a  boat  with  armed  men, 
can  they  mean  you  harm  ?  " 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  193 

The  Admiral  turned,  and  seeing  the  frigate's 
boat  approaching,  answered,  ♦ 

''Indeed,  my  child,  these  Dutchmen  are  not 
inclined  to  see  the  game  which  they  had  at 
bay,  thus  rescued  from  their  hands,  and  I  be- 
think me  that  it  is  time  we  should  move,"  so 
saying,  he  led  the  way  to  a  little  copse  hard  by, 
which,  at  first  glance,  seemed  impenetrable, 
but  under  w^hich,  really,  was  an  inlet  of  water. 
Beneath  this  copse  was  secreted  a, light  shal- 
lop, into  which  the  Admiral' handed  Elvellynne, 
and  then  stepped  forth  to  reconnoitre. 

The  advancing  party,  composed  of  four  ma- 
rines and  the  boat's  crew,  under  a  Heutenant, 
had  already  landed,  and  was  but  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  copse,  when  the  Admiral  step- 
ped out,  and,  seeing  him,  the  officer  led  on  his 
men  with  a  quicker  step.  The  Admiral,  per- 
ceiving at  once  that  no  time  was  to  be  lost, 
stepped  into  the'  boat,  and  shoved  out  from  the 
coppice.  Immediately  on  seeing  this,  the  offi- 
cer led  back  his  men  to  the  boat,  and  commen- 
ced a  pursuit. 

The  frigates  had  separated,  the  one  to  which 
the  boat  belonged  ''  lying  by,"  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, while  the  other  had  hauled  off,  and  was 
beating  round  the  island.  The  pursuit,  for  a 
few  moments,  was  very  keen,  but  the  Admiral 
had  the  advantage  of  a  light  boat  and  smooth 
water,  and,  consequently,  gained  on  the  pur- 
suers. 

He  had  reached  half  way  between  the  two 
islands,  and  was  every  moment  shooting  far- 
ther and  farther  beyond  the  chase,  and  Elvel- 
17 


194  THE    BRIGANTINE  :    OR, 

lynne  began  to  look  upon  escape  as  certain, 
when  a  shot  from  the  pursuing  boat  struck  the 
old  man  in  the  right  arm,  passing  through  the 
arm  into  his  side.  The  oar  fell  from  his  pow- 
erless grasp,  and  for  a  moment  he  reeled,  but 
-  gathering  strength,  regained  his  seat  and  sat 
erect ! 

''My  father!  oh!  father,  are  you  hurt?" 
cried  Elvellynne,  in  a  voice  of  agony,  starting 
forwards,  and  placing  her  hands  on  the  old  man's 
shoulder.  ^ 

''Poh,  poh,  my  child,"  answered  Lowe,  not 
willing  that  his  daughter  should  know  the  ex- 
tent of  the  injury  which  he  felt  was  mortal ; 
''poh,  no!  only  a  flesh  wound  in  the  arm^ 
which  I  shall  soon  recover." 

Satisfied  with  this  assurance,  though  some- 
what alarmed  at  the  profuse  flow  of  blood  from 
the  wound,  and  the  momentary  paleness  which 
overspread  her  sire's  face,  the  maiden  began  to 
cast  about  her  for  some  means,  oflfering  a  pros- 
pect of  escape ;  and,  in  her  anxiety,  tendered  to 
the  old  man  her  feeble  assistance,  at  the  same 
time  seizing  an  oar.  He  smiled  faintly  at  her 
ardour,  and  pointed  over  her  should^^  to  the 
soldiers,  already  stepping  aboard  of  frails 
fabric. 

"  Save  him,  oh !  spare  him,  he  is  my  fa- 
ther!" cried  Elvellynne,  imploring  the  officer 
who  commanded  the  boat. 

"  Duty,  fair  lady,"  replied  the  officer,  politely 
and  kindly,  ''  I  regret  that  duty  impels  me  to 
this  unpleasant  necessity  :  could  I  accede  to 
your  request,  I  would." 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  195 

''  Oh,  God ! "  muttered  Elvellynne,  and  with 
clasped  hands,  sank  down  in  the  boat. 

''Let  the  man  who  fired  that  shot,  stand 
forth !"  said  the  Admiral,  in  a  husky  voice,  but 
in  a  tone  so  deep,  determined,  and  fierce,  that 
it  startled  even  the  lifeless  girl  from  her 
despair. 

''Let  him  stand  forth,  I  say!"  repeated  the 
old  man,  with  difficulty  raising  himself  with 
one  hand,  while  the  effort  made  the  red  stream 
of  life  crush,  bubblino^  from  his  side.  The  ma- 
rine,  under  some  secret  influence,  stepped 
forward. 

"Traitor!"  said  the  Admiral,  as  he  recog- 
nized one  who  had  ever  partaken  of  his  kind- 
ness, and  whose  life  he  had  oRce  saved  at  the 
hazard  of  his  own  : — "Traitor,  base  and  false, 
take  thy  doom  !  "  and,  with  a  pistol  which  he 
drew  from  his  bosom,  the  old  man  sent  the  be- 
trayer to  his  last  account.  As  the  false  soldier 
fell,  he  gasped  with  his  last  breath  : — 

'^Heis,  he  is,  the  Earl  of  Clarendon!  the 
pi — pi — pirate  Lo\\^e !  "  and  expired. 

"  Ay,  truly  enough,"  bitterly  exclaimed  the 
old  I,  looking  at  the  officer,  who  stood  sur- 
prisea,  "  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  James  Hyde, 
stands  before  you,  and  can  expect,  even  from 
foreigners,  more  than  from  his  own  country- 
men." 

"  But,  but,"  muttered  the  officer  in  confu- 
sion,— "  some,  some  mistake,  here.     I,  I," — 

"  No  mistake,  sir,  whatever,"  returned  the 
Admiral,  languidly,  and  sinking  back,  "  none  ; 
jou    see    before   you   a  man,    who,   driven 


196  THE    BRIGANTINE  I   OR, 

from  his  own  country,  has  attempted  to  lead 
from  murder  and  bloodshed,  the  lawless  rovers 
of  the  ocean.  I  am  Admiral  Lowe !  and 
you,  young  man,  will  have  the  reward  for 
taking  me. 

Here  the  Admiral,  faint  from  loss  of  blood, 
cotild  say  no  more,  and  sank  gently  back,  in 
which  condition  he,  together  with  the  lifeless 
form  of  Elvellynne  was  transferred  to  the 
frigate's  boat,    and  thence   to  the  city. 


CHAPTER    X. 

It  was  soon  noised  throughout  the  gossiping 
little  town  that  the  far-famed  pirate  Lowe  w^as 
at  length  taken,  and  through  every  mouth  the 
story  ran,  with  as  many  additions  as  each  one 
chose  to  make,  till  every  man,  woman,  and  child 
was  desirous  to  see  the  famous  rover.  The  Go- 
vernor had  ordered  the  Admiral  to  be  confined 
in  the  strong-hold  within  the  fort,  when  he  had 
been  delivered  up  to  the  city  authorities,  not 
willing  to  tru^t  so  notorious  a  character  in  the 
cells  of  the  Stadt  Huys,  from  which  it  was  well 
known  that  he  had  the  year  previous  succeed- 
ed in  the  abduction  of  the  Englishman. 

Once  more  Elvellynne  de  Montford  found 
shelter  under  the  roof  of  her  kind  guardian, 
but  with  almost  a   broken  heart.     She    had 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  197 

been  separated  from  the  Admiral  when  deliv- 
ered to  the  Governor,  and  all  her  entreaties  to 
be  allowed  to  remain  with  him  were  unavail- 
ing. In  the  extremity  of  her  grief  the  maiden 
applied  to  the  good  alderman,  disclosing  every- 
thing to  him,  the  rank  and  station  of  the  pri- 
soner, and  her  connexion  with  him.  The  good 
man  was  as  much  grieved  as  surprised  at  her 
statement ;  and  taking  his  hat  and  cane  imme- 
diately sallied  forth  and  betook  himself  to  the 
Governor's,  to  whom  he  related  the  facts  as  he 
had  heard  them  from  the  mouth  of  his  ward. 
The  Governor  at  once  granted  the  alderman's 
petition,  and  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  promised 
that  the  prisoner  should  be  recommended  to 
the  home  government  for  mercy,  at  the  same 
time  he  informed  alderman  Von  Brooter  that 
this  could  the  more  readily  be  done,  as  a  vessel 
had  just  arrived,  bringing  despatches  which 
declared  that  hostihties  between  the  two  pow- 
ers had  ceased,  and  that  the  port  was  now  open 
to  all  English  vessels. 

Overjoyed  at  his  success  and  the  kindness 
of  the  Governor,  and  wishing  that  his  ward 
should  partake  of  the  intelligence,  the  good 
alderman  hastened  home  to  make  it  known  to 
Elvellynne.  As  he  turned  into  Princess-street, 
he  thought  he  knew  the  figure  on  the  trottoir 
before  him,  and  hastened  forwards.  The  figure 
turned  in  at  the  gate,  and  before  the  door  was 
opened,  the  alderman  stood  by  the  side  of  La 
Vincent.  They  entered  together,  and  proceed- 
ed to  the  little  boudoir,  where  sat  Elvellynne  in 
the  same  chair  which  once  before  she  had  oq- 
17^ 


198  THE    BRIGANTINfi    :    O&j 

cupied  with  similar  emotions  of  grief  for  her 
lover  who  now  stood  before  her.  The  good 
alderman  delayed  a  little  till  the  first  greeting 
was  passed,  and  then  entering,  affectionately 
took  the  hand  of  the  sorrow-stricken  maiden, 
and  told  her  she  was  at  liberty  to  visit  her 
father  when  and  so  often  as  she  wished. 

"  Father !  father ! "  exclaimed  La  Vincent  in 
astonishment ;  "  where  is  your  father  1 "     ''  In, 
prison,"  faintly  answered  Elvellynne,  and  cov- 
ering her  face  with  her  hands,  sunk  back  in  the 
seat  overcome  with  tears.     She  had  never  yet 
told  her  lover  farther  than  that  she  was  the 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  and  conse- 
quently La  Vincent  was  ignorant  that  Admiral 
Lowe  and  Lord  Hyde  was  the  same  person. 
Too  much  overcome   to  make  the  disclosure 
herself    Elvellynne  begged  her  kind  guardian 
to  tell  him  all,  and  if  he  could  no  longer  look 
upon  her  as   he  had  regarded  her  when  the 
poor  unknown  Elvellynne  de  Montford,  to  ab- 
solve him  from  all  obligations.     The  alderman 
beckoned  the  young  officer  aside,  and  informed 
him  as  Elvellynne  had  requested ;    but  when 
he  began  to  intimate  that  if  he  could  not  with 
the  same  feelings  look  upon  the  daughter  of 
Admiral  Lowe  (or  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,   as 
we  shall  now  call  him,)  as  he  had  upon  Elvel- 
lynne de  Montford,  that  she  herself  had  autho- 
rized him  to  liberate  him  from  all  engagements, 
the   young  man   abruptly   turned   from  him, 
and  clasped  the  weeping  maiden  in  his  arms. 
**  Mine,  and   mine    forever ! "    said    he,    and 
sealed  the  exclamation  with  a  token  of  love. 


ADMIRAL    LOWE.  199 

Feeling  himself  to  be  now  as  much  the  child 
of  the  unfortunate  Earl  as  Elvellynne  herself, 
La  Vincent  listened  with  equal  attention  to  the 
words  of  the  alderman.  He  told  Elvellynne 
that  the  Governor  had  readily  consented  to 
her  visiting  her  father,  and  dwelt  at  some 
length  and  with  strong  hopes  upon  the  Gover- 
nor's proposition  to  recommend  the  prisoner  to 
mercy.  He  consoled  her  as  best  he  might' 
with  all  the  tenderness  of  a  father,  and  then 
led  her  forth  to  the  prison. 

As  they  were  leaving  the  house  a  messenger 
arrived  from  the  Governor,  breathless  with 
haste,  to  tell  Elvellynne  that  the  Earl  was  suf- 
fering much  from  his  wound,  and  wished  to 
see  her  as  soon  as  possible. 

With  this  incentive  they  hastened  on,  and 
soon  entered  the  fort.  La  Vincent  led  the 
trembling  girl  within  the  stronghold,  where  lay 
the  Earl,  supported  on  one  hand  by  the  faithful 
Panlus  Spleutcher,  and  on  the  other  by  Gover- 
nor Colve  himself  The  leech  was  adminis- 
tering some  restorative  to  the  dying  man,  and 
intimating  with  an  ominous  shake  of  the  head, 
in  reply  to  the  Governor's  question,  that  there 
was  no  longer  any  hope.  The  Earl  faintly 
opened  his  eyes,  and  with  a  motion  signified 
that  he  would  be  alone  with  his  child.  La 
Vincent  would  have  withdrawn  with  the  rest, 
but  Lord  Hyde  slowly  articulated  his  name,  and 
he  returned.  They  knelt  by  the  old  man — 
Elvellynne  on  one  side,  and  La  Vincent  on  the 
other.  "My  children,"  said  he,  in  a  weak, 
husky  voice,   "what  is  done  must  be  done 


200  THE  BRIGANTINE:     ORj 

quickly.  I  am  bound  on  a  long  passage,"  con- 
tinued he,  taking  La  Vincent's  hand,  ^'and 
should  like  to  see  the  '  yards  square  by  the  hfts 
and  braces '  before  I  go.  Young  man,  do  you 
love  my  daughter  as  you  did?"  Affected  by 
the  scene.  La  Vincent  could  only  find  words  to 
reply,  "I  do."  ''  Then,"  continued  the  Earl, 
^^  let  a  man  of  God  be  called,  for  I  would  see 
my  child  provided  with  a  protector  before  I  die  ; 
and  who  so  meet  to  claim  that  right  as  a  hus- 
band?" The  minister  was  called,  and  soon 
made  his  appearance.  The  Earl  took  the  hand 
of  Elvellynne,  and  gently  laid  it  within  that  of 
La  Vincent.  ''  Take  her,  take  her,"  said  he, 
*^  as  a  dying  bequest,  and  love  her  as  she  de- , 
serves  to  be  loved.  She  has  been  a  kind  and 
affectionate  child,  and  will  be  a  good  wife. 
Let  the  ceremony  be  performed,  that  I  may  die 
in  peace." 

The  good  minister  was  for  a  moment  .too 
much  overcome  to  read  the  service;  but  re- 
gaining somewhat  his  composure,  he  pro- 
ceeded. La  Vincent  held  up  the  drooping  girl, 
and  amid  her  sobs  and  heart-rending  moans 
the  ceremony  was  completed. 

''  Thank  God !"  exclaimed  the  Earl  in  a 
faint  voice,  and  fell  back. 

With  a  wild  shriek  Elvellynne  sprang  to  his 
side,  and  received  from  his  lips  the  dying  kiss. 

"  My  child!  my  daughter !"  ejaculated  the  old 
man  with  his  last  breath,  and  gently  sank  down. 

''  My  father,  speak  !  speak!  oh,  speak  once 
more  to  your  daughter !"  cried  Elvellynne, 
clasping  the  inanimate  form,  and  wildly  kissing 


ADMIRAL   LOWE. 


201 


the  pallid  lips,  but  there  was  no  answer ;  and 
the  youthful  bride,  overcome  by  the  over- 
powering sensation  of  grief,  fell  senseless  by 
the  side  of  the  corpse.  ^ 

La  Vincent  gently  raised  her,  and  saw  that 
her  garments  were  dyed  with  blood,  —  'twas 
the  blood  of  her  father. 

^  ^  -5^  "^  ^  ^ 

-H-  *  -X-  %  -3^         # 

Years  rolled  by  since  the  above  event,  and 
time  had  touched  with  mellowed  tints  the  re- 
collections of  the  sad  events ;  but  never  did 
Admiral  La  Vincent  or  his  beautiful  lady  for- 
get the  prison-scene  and  the  death-bed  bridal. 
Even  Paulus  Spleutcher,  who  now  held  the 
dignity  of  bon  mari  to  the  gay  Eugenie,  would 
often  recount  to  the  little  Elvellynne  as  he  led 
her  about  the  pleasure-grounds,  his  recollec- 
tions of  her  grandfather,  which  undeviatinglj 
ended  with,  ''  Ah  !  but  he  was  a  good  man,  so 
he  was,  that  same  Admiral  Lowe." 


THE      END. 


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